GOM moots proposal to develop dalit dominated villages

New Delhi, May 19 (UNI) The Group of Minister (GoM) on Dalit Affairs today mooted a proposal to develop all the Dalit dominated villages as Prime Ministers' Model Villages with all the amenities being made available.

The GoM headed by minister for Steel and Chemicals and Fertilisers Ram Vilas Paswan held a meeting today where the status of dalit community in rural areas was assessed. The GoM found that most of the basic amenities like electricity, water, road was not available to dalit villages.

''We have decided to recommend to the Prime Minister that all villages with over 40 per cent dalit population be developed as Prime Minister's Model Villgers. They be provided with all the amenities like electricity, potable water, irrigation, road etc,'' Mr Paswan told reporters here.

He said that there are approximately 40,000 dalit dominated villages and habitats the GoM would recommend to be developed in the next three years. Every year 15000 villages/habitats be developed. On the basis of these recommendations the cabinet would formulate an Action Programme, he said.

He said that the Ministry of power has been asked to provide electricity to all the dalit dominated habitats within a year.

The GoM would meet again in the first week of June and then submit its report to the Prime Minister on June 14.

The GoM consists of ministers for Rural Development, Social Justice and Empowerment, Agriculture, Agro rural industry, Urban Development, Mines Department etc.

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