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Over Rs. 100-cr. projects for rural development

SRINAGAR, JUNE 8 . The Jammu and Kashmir government has said it is executing 24 special projects at a cost of Rs 111 crores to boost development in rural areas.

State Rural Development Minister Peerzada Mohammad Sayeed said the Jammu and Kashmir government was hopeful of getting sanctioned 12 more projects from the Centre at a cost of Rs 95 crores.

He said the state government was planning to have model village in each block of the state.

The highest-ever Central assistance of Rs 142.36 crores was received by the department during 2003-04 as against Rs 47.27 crores during the previous year.

Along with this, a special package of Rs 108 crores was received for wage employment establishment of durable assets in the village, he said.

Mr Peerzada said the department was working towards connecting the remotest villages of the state with the mainstream of development and for establishment democracy at the grassroot levels in the state.

A scheme named PURA (Provisions of Urban in Rural Areas) is also being launched in the state to bridge the rural-urban gap.

An amount of Rs 5 crores would be spent under the scheme on a cluster of 10 to 12 villages within 5 kms of major towns.

The Minister said provisions are being made to provide basic amenities in rural areas which include health, sanitation, communication, drinking water, electricity, road connectivity besides education and employment opportunities.

This will on one side restrict the migration towards urban sites and one the other hand a firm rural base would put the state, which still has agriculture-based economy, on the path of progress.

The Minister said initiatives have been taken to delegate additional powers to the panchayats, the ground unit of democratic setup, to monitor the functioning of government in rural areas.

He said the special provisions are made for the upliftment of BPL families. Under IAY 7703 such families have been provided with the financial assistance for construction and upgradation of their houses.

Subsidy worth Rs 10.39 crores has been disbursed for the purpose in the current year. Around 1200 BPL families have also been given financial assistance worth Rs 20.27 crores for promotion of handicraft and poultry, he said.

UNI

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