Panchayat Karmis' honorarium increased

Bhopal, Mar 10: Madhya Pradesh Panchayat and Rural Development Minister Narendra Singh Tomar today said in the state assembly that the government has decided to increase the honorarium for Panchayat Karmis by Rs 500 besides promoting self-help groups (SHGs).

Replying to the debate on demands for grants by Rural Development, Public Relations and Panchayati Raj, departments for 2006-07, Mr Tomar said a provision for Rs 323 crore had been made as per recommendations of the 12th Finance Commission, while the state government would provide Rs 206 crore to panchayats.

A provision for Rs 2.40 crore had been made to make panchayats self-dependent under the Panchayat Protsahan scheme.

Mr Tomar said Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan will launch 'Jalabhishek Abhiyan' for tackling water crisis from Neemuch on April 2.

He said 2.40 lakh SHGs had been constituted in the state under the Swarn Jayanti Gram Swarojgar Yojna and Rs 82 crore saved by the SHGs had been deposited into banks.

The Minister said 14 districts will be included in the second phase of Madhya Pradesh Gramin Ajivika Pariyojna, while Rs 30 crore has been spent in 14 districts during the past two years under the DPIP scheme.

He said 81.64 lakh students were being provided nutritious diet in 82,662 schools under the mid-day meal scheme.

Mr Tomar said Rs 3,302.74 crore had been approved for construction of 18,389 km roads under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana.

Later, the assembly passed Rs 2,443.79 crore grants for Public Relations, Panchayat and Rural Development departments by a voice vote.

UNI