Planning Com urged to grant Rs 200,000 crore for Rural Dev

New Delhi, Oct 17 (UNI) Rural Development Minister Raghuvansh Prasad Singh today said that his ministry has demanded Rs 200,000 for the development of rural areas in the Eleventh Plan period while Rs 35,000 crore is needed for the self employment programme for rural population.

Addressing mediapersons after conclusion of the two-day national Conference of Project Directors of District Rural Development Agencies (DRDA) and Chief Executive Officers of Zila Parishads, he said that the Rs 200,000 crore would be required for programmes to eradicate poverty, generate employment and infrastructure in rural areas.

The Minister said that the meeting recommended that Central Government allocation for housing for the poor should be increased, State Government should adopt a proactive policy for marketing of products of rural artisans, increase in SGSY Special projects etc, The two-day Conference, which was inaugurated by the Prime Minister yesterday, facilitated an interaction between the planners, policy makers and implementers on various programmes and schemes of the Rural Development Ministry for employment generation, rural infrastructure development, food security, shelter and habitat development, drinking water supply, improved sanitation, area development etc.

UNI AJ VD RN2124