SHRI MAHARIA PARTICIPATES IN REGIONAL WORKSHOP ON LAND POLICY
AT PHNOM PENH
Shri Subhash
Maharia, Minister of State for Rural Development while participating
in a 3-day Regional Workshop on Land Policy issues for Asia, held
at Phnom Penh from June 4-6, 2002, said that understanding the
importance of empowering the rural population, the Rural Development
Ministry in India is working untiringly on the four basic principles
of Awareness, Transparency, Accountability and Social Audit.
Briefing
the senior Ministers Shri Maharia said that India and Cambodia
share several common features in the field of rural development
also. While in India the rural population is 73% it is 80% in
Cambodia.
Recalling the
visit of Prime Minister of India to Cambodia from April 9-11,
2002 Shri Maharia expressed India's eagerness to move ahead on
the announcements made by the Prime Minister. He specifically
referred to the setting of a museum of traditional textiles at
Siem Reap, positioning of 10 experts under ITEC programme, donation
of 10,000 tons of rice, conservation and restoration of Ta Prohm
Project, setting up of computer kiosks, efforts being made to
promote Angkor Wat as an important tourist destination amongst
the Indian population, and promoting people to people exchanges
between the two countries.
Elaborating the
progress made in the development of Cambodia Mr. Sok An, Senior
Minister and Minister In-charge of the Council of Ministers, Government
of Cambodia briefed Shri Maharia about the various initiatives
being undertaken by Cambodia. Mr. Sok An mentioned about the administrative
reforms, demobilization of soldiers, preparations being made for
the forthcoming ASEAN - India Summit and Cambodia's role in the
ASEAN region.
Shri Maharia also
had meetings with His Excellency Mr. Im Chhun Lim, Minister of
Land Management, Urban Planning & Construction, His Excellency
Mr. Ly Thuch, Minister of Rural Development and His Excellency
Mr. Ith Sam Heng, Minister of Social Affairs, Labour, vocational
Training and Youth Rehabilitation during his visit to Cambodia.
