Centre to strengthen PRIs through reward scheme: Aiyer

Hyderabad, Jun 1 (UNI) The Centre will expand the Rs 50 crore World Bank-funded Panchayatraj Institution (PRI) Empowerment, Accountability and Incentive Scheme to reward states empowering PRIs and those PRIs functioning effectively, Union Panchayatraj Minister Mani Shankar Aiyer said tonight.

The World Bank was favourably disposed to provide more funds for the scheme, the Minister, who had held talks with the Bank officials, told reporters on the sidelines of a lecture in memory of Former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi.

He would hold talks with Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram on June five to mobilise additional Central funds for the project to strengthen the PRI system in the country.

Informing that his Ministry had concluded memorandum of understanding with as many as 21 states and Union terroritories for devolution of functions, finances and functionaries to the PRIs, he said the process of signing MoUs with remaining states would be completed by coming September.

Earlier delivering the ''Rajiv Gandhi Memorial Lecture'' endowed by the National Mineral Development Corporation, he stressed the need for strengthening the grassroots level democracy so that the benefits of globalisation reached the common men.

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