SHANTA KUMAR
CALLS FOR REMOVING DEFICIENCIES IN IMPLEMENTATION OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT
SCHEMES
The Rural Development
Minister Shri Shanta Kumar has called for removing all deficiencies
in the implementation of the schemes and programmes of the Ministry.
Making his opening remarks at the two-day meeting of the Parliamentary
Consultative Committee attached to his Ministry here today, he
said that we must review all the schemes without any preconceived
ideas. Shri Shanta Kumar expressed the hope that the discussion
will be free, frank and open. He said the bottlenecks will be
removed to ensure that the benefits of the schemes reach the target
groups. The two-day brainstorming session of the Parliamentary
Consultative Committee has been convened to discuss the guidelines
for implementation of the scheme and to find out if any changes
are required.
During the day presentations
were made by senior officials on the schemes like Swarnajayanti
Gram Swarojgar Yojana, Sampoorna Grameen Rojgar Yojana, Rural
Housing Schemes, CAPART, Drinking Water Schemes and Sanitation.
Participating in
the discussion members pointed out that implementation of the
schemes is the biggest challenge. They said while formulating
the schemes, these difficulties should be given due attention.
They highlighted the difficulties faced by the Self-help Groups
in dealing with the banks. It was also pointed out that the interest
charged by the banks to the Self-help Groups is high compared
to other institutions. Some members suggested that financing of
the Sampoorna Grameen Swarozgar Yojana (SGSY) schemes should be
made mandatory for the banks to ensure the participation of the
banks.
On the housing schemes,
members pointed out that the cost per unit under the Indira Awaas
Yojana is not practical and it should be increased. It was also
pointed out that guidelines are being violated in the implementation
of Sampoorna Grameen Rozgar Yojana (SGRY). They said, contractors
are being engaged for construction work contrary to guidelines
and the details of persons engaged for manual work is not being
maintained. On the Drinking Water Schemes, members suggested that
rainwater harvesting should be made mandatory for the housing
schemes and mechanism to ensure recharging of ground water should
also be taken up simultaneously. Almost all the members demanded
that their participation in the functioning of District Rural
Development Agencies (DRDAs) and implementation of the schemes
should be ensured and directives should be sent to the state government
on this.
Members of Parliament
who attended today’s meeting are Shri Chinmayanand Swami, Shri
P.S. Gadhavi, Shri Chintaman Wanage, Shri G. Mallikarrjunappa,
Shri Adhi Sankar, Shri T.M. Selvaganpathi, Shri Raghuraj Singh
Shakya, Shri Shivaji Mane, Shri Madhab Rajbangshi, Shri A.F. Golam
Osmani, Shri Bheru Lal Meena, Shri Bhal Chandra Yadav, Shri P.D.
Elangovan, Shri E. Ponnuswamy, Smt. Rama Pilot, Shri Dalit Ezhimalai,
Shri Sunder Lal Patwa, Shri Sunder Lal Patwa, and Shri P.R. Kyndiah.
The members from Rajya Sabha who attended the meeting are Shri
Shyam Lal , Sh. Kailash Joshi, Sh. Kailash Joshi and Shri A. Sudershan.
