April 11, 2002

‘9’

DMs OF 80 SELECTED DISTRICTS SHOULD MAKE CONCERTED EFFORTS FOR SUCCESSFULLY IMPLEMENTING NRC: UMA BHARTI

40 MORE DISTRICTS IDENTIFIED FOR 2002-2003

    Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports, Sushree Uma Bharti urged DMs/DCs to make concerted efforts for ensuring that the National Reconstruction Corps (NRC) Scheme is implemented successfully in the 80 selected districts of the country. The Minister said that internal evaluation of the scheme has shown greater success in districts with their active involvement. She suggested that regular meetings of District Executive Committee headed by the DMs will help in identifying problems, reviewing progress and in the removal of bottlenecks. She also requested them to make spot inspections to the project areas whenever feasible. She was addressing the NRC Review and Orientation meeting of DMs/DCs and NYKS officials regarding the implementation of the NRC Scheme in their districts, here today.

    Sushree Uma Bharti announced that for the year 2002-03, forty more districts have been identified for the implementation of the scheme which is in operation as a pilot project in 80 districts of the country. Under the scheme, a project officer and 100 volunteers in 80 districts selected this year have been recruited on contract basis to be engaged in the implementation of eight centrally sponsored schemes of the concerned ministries/departments of the Government of India. The schemes identified for implementation under the NRC are – Swaranjayanti Gram Swarojgar Yojana (SGSY); Watershed Development; Swaran Jayanti Shehri Rojgar Yojana (SJSRY); Health – Enhanced Malaria Control Programme; Afforestation/Conservation of Environment; Non-Conventional Energy Sources and Tribal Development/Housing.

    She said that after internal evaluation of the implementation of the scheme some bottlenecks have been identified. These include delay in issuing of required guidelines from the concerned departments of the State Government; selection of volunteers from the blocks where the projects are not being implemented and lack of effective monitoring and supervision by the concerned officials. Concerted efforts should be made to remove these bottlenecks.