MPs asked to help implement rural development schemes

New Delhi, Feb 19 (UNI) Rural Development Minister Raghuvansh Prasad Singh has admitted certain problems in the implementation of rural development schemes at some places and said all steps are being taken to remove them.

Addressing the members of the Consultative Committee attached to his Ministry here yesterday, Dr Singh said the Draft CAG report&various Social Audit Groups have pointed out these shrotcomings and the Ministry is in touch with the respective State Governments and is monitoring the situation very closely.

However, the various flagship programmes of the Ministry are doing well and asked MPs to actively participate to achieve further success, he claimed and asked the members to study any shortcomings in the implementation of programmes like National Rural Employment Guarantee Programme (NREGP), Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY), Total Sanitation Campaign ( TSC) and Swarnjayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana (SGSY) and bring it to the notice of the Ministry.

He appreciated the work done under various programmes and informed the members that the Ministry of Rural Development in coordination with the Government is very close to achieving the targets. He also informed the members that NREGP, which is a demand-based programme is doing very well in most of the States.

The Members raised various points about category of works to be offered under NREGA, minimum wages to be paid, the enhancement of minimum wages at certain places where it is very low, increase in the cost of construction of latrines in rural households and definition of BPL families. Some Members also raised the issue of diversion of funds under NREGP to various other programmes of the State Governments, in some States. The Minister assured that the matter will be looked into and action taken accordingly.

The Ministry presented a Power Point Presentation to the Members about the achievements during 2007-08 under various programmes and suggestions for improvement.

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