Rs 14,000 crore to be spent under NREGS: Aiyar

Shimla, May 30 (UNI) Panchayati Raj, Youth Affairs and Sports Minister Mani Shankar Aiyar today said a sum of Rs 14,000 crore will be spent under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS) to benefit rural prople of the country.

Addressing a meeting of Zila Parishad and Panchayat Samiti members of Chamba district, he said proper implementation of the scheme would bring about constructive changes in the rural economy and enhance the importance of panchayati raj institutions (PRIs).

Mr Aiyar asked PRI representatives to keep themselves aware of the central government directions for effective implementation of the scheme.

The PRIs should be made self-sufficient and aware to ensure proper implementation of rural development schemes, he said.

Directing the government officers to ensure proper coordination with the PRIs, he expressed happiness over their satisfactory performance in the state.

State Panchayati Raj Minister Sat Mahajan, who was also present on the occasion, said the state government was taking effective steps to strengthen the PRIs and hoped that positive results would soon come out.

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