Bharat Nirman Dweep Vikas Utsav launched in Andamans

Port Blair, Dec 3 (UNI) Bharat Nirman Dweep Vikas Utsav has been launched this evening in Wimberlygunj, a remote village of Andaman Island, with the aim of creating awareness among rural populace about the flagship programmes of the government and the incentives for their economic upliftment.

This event, under public information campaign, had been carried out throughout the country by the Government of India.

Administrator of Andaman and Nicobar Islands Lt. Gen (Retd) M M Lakhera inaugurated the Utsav this evening.

''There should not be politics in relation to development of our country. Our collective efforts should be there for the overall development,'' Mr Lakhera said while addressing huge crowd after formally inaugurating the Utsav.

Mr Lakhera said, ''We are very good in launching schemes but is it not our duty to develop our place making use of the schemes of Union Government,'' he said.

''The Utsav would focus on the core flagship programmes implemented by various ministries or organisations to fuel rural growth during the five year plan period. Programmes such as National Rural Employment Guarantee, Rural Health Mission, Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan with universalised midday meal programme, besides implementation of Right to Information Act are to be highlighted,'' O N Jaiswal the Officer In-charge, Press Information Bureau in Andaman told UNI today after the inaugural ceremony.

There would be three seminars conducted during the Utsav on Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan and Midday meal, Right to Information Act and Women empowerment, Jaiswal said.

He further said that the overall objective of the campaign would be to empower poor and neo-literate living in rural areas and remote places by giving them access to information on various policies and programmes under the flagship schemes of the government.

''It will also make the people aware of their rights and responsibilities as also to motivate them participate and reap the benefit of the schemes,'' the PIB officer added.

Earlier, it was decided by Union government to organise Public Information Campaigns across the country and Press Information Bureau was made the nodal agency which would coordinate the Public Information Campaigns.

''Besides state ministries and central government departments, banks, insurance companies, NGOs, user societies and local business houses were also involved in this campaign to make it target oriented,'' Jaiswal added.

The PIB Port Blair has also roped in local units of Doordarshan and All India Radio for all kind of assistant.

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