ANANTH KUMAR HAS TAKEN OVER ADDITIONAL
CHARGE AS MINISTER OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT
Shri Ananth Kumar
Minister of Urban Development and Poverty alleviation has taken
over additional charge as Minister of Rural Development here today.
Talking to the media persons, the Minister listed out the priorities
of the Government and said in spite of rapid urbanization, a large
section of population lives in villages. The Government will take
all necessary steps to provide urban amenities in rural areas
and to bridge gap between urban ‘India’ and rural ‘Bharat’. National
development is not possible without rapid rural development, the
Minister said.
Underlining the need
of empowerment of Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs), Shri Ananth
Kumar said, Ministry of Rural Development has made PRIs responsible
for implementation of ‘Swajal Dhara’ and ‘Hariyali’
programmes. This is a new trend under which the Government is
providing Panchayats the necessary resources as well as giving
responsibility of implementation. Ministry has already received
17,000 applications under Swajal Dhara Scheme in a short duration,
he added.
Shri Kumar pointed
out that Ministry is vigorously pursuing effective implementation
and better funds utilization with the State Governments. Shri
Anna Saheb M.K. Patil, Shri U.V. Krishnam Raju, Ministers of State
for Rural Development, Senior Officers of the Ministry met him
and apprised him of the latest policies issues of the Ministry.
