RS members demand more funds for rural sector

New Delhi, Mar 20 (UNI) Finance Minister P Chidambaram today introduced the Appropriation (No 3) Bill, 2006 in the Rajya Sabha with several members demanding more allocation for the rural sector.

Mr Kirpal Parmar (BJP) said there should be separate allocation for the agriculture sector. Lack of funds for it will widen the rural-urban divide, he said.

Congress' V. Narayanswamy said farmers face a lot of difficulties in obtaining loans from banks. The government should set up a monitoring agency for this, he said.

Mr R Chandra Sekar Reddy (TDP) said no southern state has been included in the National Rural Health Mission which plans to utilise Rs 25,000 crore. Furthermore, no southern city has been included in the urban renewal programme, he said.

Mr Reddy also called for removing all taxes on tractors being used in agriculture.

BJP's Jayantilal Barot said thousands of villages still continue to be without power.

Mr Jesudasu Seelam (Congress) said only 0.5 per cent of the allocation has been made for SCs/STs which comprise 25 per cent of the total population.

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