NATIONAL CONFERENCE OF PROJECT DIRECTORS
OF DRDAs CONCLUDES
A two day National
Conference of Project Directors of District Rural Development
Agencies (DRDAs) and the Chief Executive Officers of Zilla Parishads
organized by Ministry of Rural Development concluded here today.
The Conference was
organized to holistically assess the implementation of Rural Development
Programmes at the field level and based on the feedback and other
inputs received from the functionaries at the field level to chalk
out the strategies and corrective measures for enhancing the efficacy
of Rural Development Programmes.
In respect of issues
relating to Swarnjayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana(SGSY), while apprising
the participants about the recent changes in the guidelines of
the Programme, it was impressed upon the participants by the Ministry
that through social mobilization and capacity building of the
Self Help Groups (SHGs), the Groups need to be so strengthened
and made economically viable so that the financial institutions
themselves come forward for providing credit for economic activities
of the Group rather than the Group seeking the financial assistance
as largesse. The participants were also urged towards timely and
expeditious completion of ongoing watershed development projects
instead of going for new watershed projects in a routine manner.
The participants from the States expressed the view that the provision
for financial assistance for construction of houses for rural
poor under Indira Awas Yojana may be considered by the Ministry
as the quantum of assistance (Rs. 20,000 in plains and Rs. 22000
in hilly and difficult areas) was fixed in 1996 and is no longer
sufficient to meet the required costs. The participants were assured
that the matter would be reviewed by the Ministry.
Around 600 Project
Directors, Chief Executive Officers and other Rural Development
functionaries from the State participated in the Conference.
The feedback and
suggestions received during the Conference would definitely help
in taking the new policy initiatives and corrective measures and
in chalking out a road map for transforming India into a developed
country by 2020 through expeditious and planned development of
rural areas through people’s participation.
