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`Big push for rural infrastructure'

Special Correspondent

Eradication of poverty closely linked to infrastructure, says Minister

CHANDIGARH: The Central Government has taken up the "Bharat Nirman" programme to develop rural infrastructure in a big way, the Union Minister of State for Planning, M.V. Rajasekharan, said on Tuesday while inaugurating a seminar on `Rural Development Retrospect and Prospects' at the Haryana Institute of Rural Development at Nilokheri in Karnal district.

He said that the six components of the Bharat Nirman programme included rural connectivity, rural housing, rural electrification, irrigation, drinking water and rural telephony. The rejuvenation of rural areas and eradication of poverty were closely linked to availability of rural infrastructure.

He pointed out that 3.85 lakh more self-help groups would be credit-linked in 2006-07 and NABARD would open a line of credit to finance farm production and investment activities through self-help groups. Under the National Rural Health Mission, more than two lakh Associated Social Health Activists (ASHA) would be made fully functional and over 1,000 block level community health centres would be set up to provide round-the-clock services.

While referring to various employment programmes implemented from time to time, he said that the share of members belonging to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in casual labour work force had increased.

Alleviation of poverty and provision of a decent living standard to people were the guiding principles of the planning process. "Though we have made impressive gains in this regard, we are equally concerned at the fact that we continue to be home to one-fourth of the world's poor," he observed.

The Haryana Chief Parliamentary Secretary, Dharmbir Singh, said that the State Government had successfully implemented several rural development programmes. He expressed confidence that the devolution of powers, funds and functionaries of 10 departments, as mentioned in the document of activity mapping released by Union Panchayati Raj Minister Mani Shankar Aiyar and Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda would prove very useful in empowering the Panchayati Raj Institutions in the State.

He said that the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme had been implemented in Mohindergarh and Sirsa districts and it would also be implemented in some more districts in the State. Panchayati Raj Sammelans were being organised in each district and office-bearers of Zila Parishads, Panchayat Samities and Gram Panchayats were being imparted training to enhance their efficiency.

Eminent economist Prof.Sucha Singh Gill of Punjabi University, Patiala discussed the challenges faced by India in the task of rural development. He stressed the need for giving greater priority to social development and social justice. Haryana Institute of Rural Development Director Dr.Surat Singh underlined the significance of rural development for overall development of the country.

Over 60 distinguished scholars from various universities, research institutes and training centres attended the seminar.

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