ICAR dir for pro-active role on Bharat Nirman

Shillong, Sep 13: Indian Council of Agricultural Research, North East Region Director Dr K M Bujarbaruah has urged all the North-Eastern states to play a pro-active role to derive maximum benefit from the ongoing Bharat Nirman programme.

Speaking at the five-day public information campaign launched at the ICAR auditorium at Umiam, Ri Bhoi District, Meghalaya, the ICAR Director, said Bharat Nirman being a time bound business-like programme has provided a rare opportunity to the North Eastern states including Sikkim to strengthen their weak infrastructure in priority sector.

He pointed out that in agricultural and allied sectors, the NE states could derive benefits. From just 20 per cent of irrigated crop land, these states can add upto 17 per cent to reach 37 per cent if they judiciously implement surface and ground water irrigation schemes apart from the lift irrigation projects.

He said the states are in advantageous position for such schemes.

Dr Bujarbaruah also pointed out that 20501 km of new roads to be constructed in NE and the upgradation of a large number of old roads together with rural electrification and other flagship schemes could make an immense impact on the life and economy of the people of the region.

Taking part in the deliberation, editor of Dongmusa, Mr B P Domes said the ''Bharat Nirman'' Campaign is a reconstruction effort taken up by the government and urged the people to wake up to shoulder the responsibility and the task ahead.

He said India is fast emerging as one of the top 10 countries in the world and this could be possible when the people of the country were prepared to the task. He cited the example of transformation of Singapore into a major city in the world and hoped that the inclusion of Shillong among the 63 urban centres under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission has given an opportunity to the state to improve the condition of the state capital.

The campaign includes Bharat Nirman, Sarva Siksha Abhiyan, Right to Information Act, National Rural Health Mission, Universal Mid-day Meal Scheme, National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, Integrated Child Development Services Scheme, Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission and Prime Minister's New 15-Point Programme for the Welfare of the Minorities.

UNI