Uttaranchal trails in total sanitation program:Suryakanta Patel

Dehradun, May 2 (UNI) Uttaranchal still has a lot to do in rural development as it trails behind in the area of total sanitation program and rural employment, Union Minister of State for Rural Development and Parliamentary Affairs Suryakanta Patel said today.

Ms Patel told reporters here Uttaranchal did not figure very highly in the country's rural development index.

''It has to work hard specially in the field of total sanitation program and employment to bring itself at par with states like Tamilnadu, Andhra Pradesh and Mahrashtra in rural development,'' she said, adding though it has done better in other areas of rural development like using 80 to 90 per cent of the funds disbursed by the centre.

Ms Patel further said the Swarna Jayanti Rural Self Employment Scheme should be used more effectively to solve the problem of unemployment in the state.

Stressing for the upliftment of women here, she said the government is planning to introduce saving groups schemes.

She said the women would be provided with easy loans for self-employment apart from funding for various vocational training.

''Three districts in the state have already been brought under National Rural Employment Gurantee Scheme,'' she said, adding, ''by next year it will be the endeavour of the government to implement the scheme in all remaining 10 districts.'' The Minister was here to attend a review meeting of office bearers for forthcoming National Convention of Nationalist Congress Party scheduled to be held in Dehradun on June 9 and 10.

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