The Hindu : New Delhi News : Emphasis on wasteland development

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Friday, Feb 18, 2005

New Delhi

New Delhi

Emphasis on wasteland development

By Our Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI, FEB. 17. Stating that the United Progressive Alliance Government's Common Minimum Programme lays emphasis on wasteland development, senior Congress leader, Jairam Ramesh, today said that the Government would spend a substantial amount on wasteland development in the next five years. The allocated money to the tune of about Rs. 11,000 crores will be spent on different schemes like watershed development to increase the output of lands lying unused, he added.

Speaking at the "Learnings Fair on Wasteland Development and Management of Natural Resources" organised by the Society for Promotion of Wastelands Development here, Mr. Ramesh stated that the biggest challenge was the proper utilisation of funds. "The Panchayat Raj Institutions should be given freedom to engage non-governmental organisations or private agencies for better implementation of these schemes," he remarked. The Employment Guarantee Bill likely to be taken up in the coming budget session, widens the definition of "employment", so that those working in other areas like watershed development can also be covered, he added.

"The late Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi had a dream to work in the are of wasteland development and subsequently, the National Wasteland Development Board was constituted, but it stopped functioning," he said.

In her welcome speech earlier, the chairperson SPWD, Amrita Patel, stated that it is a misconception that wastelands cannot be used and non-government organisations from all over the country have gathered to showcase their work in this fields. "The biggest challenges in rural areas is how to operate. There is a need to strengthen institutions working at the micro-level for better implementation of programmes like wasteland development," she added.

The "Learnings Fair on Wastelands Development and Management of Natural Resources" is being held at the Vishwa Yuvak Kendra and will continue for another two days.

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