MP will finance foreign studies for OBC

Bhopal, Mar 22 (UNI) The Madhya Pradesh government will spend Rs 15 lakh on foreign studies of talented students hailing from Other Backward Classes, Panchayati Raj Minister Rustam Singh informed the Assembly today.

Replying to the debate on his Department's budgetary demands, the former Indian Police Service officer said, ''five such students will be sent abroad. The fees concession limit for this category of students was also raised. Minorities will also be able to avail this benefit. Honorarium for panchayat officials will be raised and a national-level centre set up in Pachmarhi for training them.'' Under the state's Employment Guarantee Scheme, 44.42 lakh job cards were made. The Centre sanctioned Rs 1,789 crore for the Scheme. Until January, Rs 1,572 crore were expended and its largest component spent on water harvesting. Besides, 500 unemployed youth were doled out a total allowance to the tune of Rs 5 lakh.

''The Sampoorna Grameen Rozgar Yojana and Swarna Jayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana have yielded positive results. Under them, 2.54 lakh self-help groups were established. A sum of Rs 2,693 crore was received under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana. A total road length of 13,728 km will be laid this year at a cost of Rs 3,152 crore,'' Mr Singh claimed.

A separate provision of Rs 110 crore was being made for constructing kitchen sheds in schools to make the Midday Meal Scheme further effective. This year, an additional 24 lakh children will be brought under the Scheme. For rendering water conservation more effective, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan would relaunch the Jalabhishek Campaign on April 2.

''More than three lakh pond schemes were completed at a cost of Rs 1,184 crore. Eighty-five acres were reserved here for encouraging biotechnology, biodiversity committees formed and funds disbursed.

The World Bank has ayed a Rs 521-crore loan for poverty alleviation,'' the Minister added.

Mr Harvansh Singh, Mr Satyadev Katare (both Congress), Mr Ramlakhan Sharma (Communist Party of India-Marxist), Mr Durgalal Vijay (Bharatiya Janata Party) and others took part in the debate.

Budgetary demands amounting to Rs 2,058.92 crore were passed by voice vote.

UNI