President to launch 'Suvarna Gramodaya' on Feb 25

Bangalore, Feb 19 (UNI) The Karnataka Government has come up with a new initiative for developing vibrant village communities by adopting an intensive and integrated approach to rural development.

The project 'Suvarna Gramodaya', to be launched by President A P J Abdul Kalam on February 25 in Srinivas Saradagi, a remote village in Gulbarga in the most backward Hyderabad-Karnataka region, would focus on development of 1,000 villages every year through concerted efforts by NGOs, private sector and village communities.

According to official sources, the main objective of this ambitious project would be to upgrade the physical environment of the selected villages for improving the quality of life, fully develop the income generating potential of land-based activities, provide full and adequate infrastructure for human resources development, including education, health services and childcare facilities, generate significant levels of non-agricultural employment, especially for educated unemployed youth, support community awareness and development through Self Help Groups (SHGs) and cultural associations.

Selection of villages would be with a view to maximise the impact of the programme within the shortest possible time span. Initial preference for selection of village would be for those with large population, the sources said.

To supervise proper implementation of the project, a high-level Committee, headed by the Chief Minister, would be formed. It include the Deputy Chief Minister, Ministers for Rural Development and Panchayat Raj, Agriculture, Primary and Secondary Education, Industries and Social Welfare. The Chief Secretaries, Assistant Chief Secretaries, Development Commissioners, Principal Secretaries and Secretaries of selected Departments would be the members of the Committee.

UNI