THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Local Administration Minister Paloli Mohammed Kutty told the Assembly on Thursday that the Eleventh Plan proposals of local self-government institutions would give emphasis to agriculture.

Replying to a debate on demands for Panchayats and Urban Development, the Minister said the Plan would be prepared and implemented as People's Plan Campaign.

Mr. Mohammed Kutty said the Government would take up a scheme through panchayats to provide houses to all the poor. The scheme, to be taken up in connection with the golden jubilee of the State's formation, would be named after former Chief Minister E.M.S. Namboodiripad.

He said that plans to protect water bodies in panchayats would be taken up with public participation. There were plans to set up production and marketing complexes in rural areas with the involvement of cooperatives. Solid waste disposal plants had been set up in 20 municipalities and 10 panchayats. The remaining municipalities and 20 more panchayats would be covered under the scheme shortly. The coverage of Asraya scheme would be extended to 25,000 families. Besides, a scheme under the afforestation programme Hariyali would be undertaken in each district.

The Government proposed to form a Centralised vigilance set-up to check corruption and irregularities in local self-government institutions. The number of ombudsman for local bodies would be increased from one to three.

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