Tamil Nadu - Udhagamandalam   

‘Bridge gap between schemes and beneficiaries’

— Photo: D. Radhakrishnan

In rapt attention: Rural Development officials and elected representatives participating in a seminar in Udhagamandalam on Saturday.

Udhagamandalam: The role of government officials in effectively bridging the gap between welfare schemes and targeted beneficiaries was emphasised at a seminar on the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS) and the direction in which it was heading.

It was organised by the Tamil Nadu Rural Development Officials Association (TNRDOA), the Nilgiris chapter, here on Saturday.

Presiding over the seminar, district president of the association R.Karunakaran said that officials should always bear in mind that such associations functioned not only to fight for their rights and benefits but also fulfil certain social responsibilities.

He said it was the duty of the officials to ensure that awareness about various schemes was enhanced among the people.

They should also see to it that the schemes served their purpose.

Ways should be evolved to link the people with the schemes.

Such an approach would show that the government employees associations existed not only for the benefit of the officials but also the people.

Mr. Karunakaran added that members of such associations should accord high priority to discipline.

Thuneri Panchayat president N.Bheeman said that the contribution of elected representatives to rural development was significant.

It was as important as that of officials.

Pointing out that they had come into public life to serve the people, he regretted that their views were not being given due importance.

While implementing the NREGS in the Nilgiris, the peculiar problems that existed in the district should be taken into consideration.

Panchayat Union chairman, Coonoor, Lakshmi said that the officials should make sure that the NREGS not only generated employment but also benefited the people.

If the weather prevented the beneficiaries from taking up works associated with the NREGS, alternatives should be provided.

TNRDOA State vice-president A.Manian said that whenever new schemes were evolved and implemented the necessary infrastructure should also be created. Hill Area Development Programme project director M.Balaji was present.

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