All villages to have road, power, communication links: PM

Visakhapatnam, Jan 3 (UNI) Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today said all the villages in the country would be connected with roads, electricity and communication links under the 'Bharat Nirman' programme.

Addressing a large gathering of members of women Self-Help Groups (SHGs) here, the Prime Minister said the micro-finance (Pavala Vaddi) programme implemented in the state had become a model concept for other states to emulate.

He said the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS) would be introduced all over the country from April 2008.

The Prime Minister said the government would also establish top class schools in every district in a phased manner.

More funds would be allotted for the development of Visakhapatnam under Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM).

Dr Singh also promised smooth merger of the BHPV with BHEL and provision of captive mines to Visakha Steel Plant.

He also assured to look into the issue of handing over Hindustan Shipyard Limited to Defence Ministry.

On food security, he said the Centre was taking all possible steps to strengthen the agricultural sector in the country.

Praising the initiatives taken by the state government under the leadership of Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy, Dr Singh said the future generations would reap riches from the projects implemented by the government.

Earlier, he distributed cheques, amounting to Rs 52 crore, to women SHGs.

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