DHARWAD: Minister for Rural Development and Panchayat Raj C.M. Udasi has said that 49 per cent of the funds meant for rural development have been set aside for gram panchayats in the current financial year.

Inaugurating several developmental works at Managundi village in Dharwad taluk on Saturday, Mr. Udasi said each gram panchayat would get Rs. 30 lakh for development works.

The State Government was spending Rs. 700 crore in the current financial year to provide potable water in rural areas, of which Rs. 440 crore had been released, he said.

Gram sabhas should take up projects on priority basis. Genuine beneficiaries will get the benefits of the schemes only when their selection was done during gram sabhas, he said.

Referring to crop insurance, Mr. Udasi said the State Government was contemplating providing crop insurance to farmers based on the quantum of rainfall received and the weather reports.

Ration cards

He said steps were being taken to rectify the lacunae in the distribution of ration cards.

Revenue and district-in-charge Minister Jagadish Shettar spoke on the various programmes introduced by the State Government for the development of rural areas.

Dharwad North MP Pralhad Joshi underscored the need for reducing political interference in development works. MLA Vinay Kulkarni urged the Ministers to take steps to provide hostel facilities to rural students studying in Dharwad.

Amrut Desai, Chairman of Education and Health Standing Committee of the Dharwad Zilla Panchayat, Prema Bada, president of Dharwad Taluk Panchayat, Kallappa Hatti, vice-president of the taluk panchayat and others were present. Saraswati Myadakoppa, president of Managundi Gram Panchayat, presided over the function.

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