Centre to launch three movements this year

Gangtok, Apr 02: Union Minister for Panchayatraj Manishankar Aiyer today announced here that three movements would be launched by the Centre in the country this year to give a boost to the development process undertaken through the Panchayatraj institutions.

Mr Aiyer, who was on a four-day visit to the state to review the functioning of the Panchayatraj institutions in Sikkim, told newsmen before leaving for Delhi today that the movements were- Panchayat Mahila Shakti Abhijan, Panchayat Yuva Shakti Abhijan and Panchayat Khel Kud Abhijan.

The Minister asked the officials concerned to chalk out detail plans so as how to implement these programmes successfully in the state.

He also said that the the central government had decided to create Backward Region Grant Fund this year to provide funds to the backward region where development projects could be undertaken.

The Minister said though Sikkim had made considerable progress in implementation of Panchayatraj system in the state and was adjudged as the third best state in the country after Kerala and Karnataka, still it had to double its efforts and go a long way to jump to the first position.

The Minister said the Centre had also identified seven flagship schemes to be implemented through the Panchayatraj institutions.

They were Sarvasikhya Abhijan, Midday meal scheme, ICDS, Rural Health Mission, Drinking water mission, total sanitation and Employment Guarantee schemes.

UNI