Union Rural Minister Raghuvansh Prasad Singh, while attending a seminar on "Rural Development and Research for Poverty Eradication" at the premises of Patna Planetarium on Monday, engaged in resorting to the age-old rhetoric of 'Garibi Hatao' saying money would not come in the way of removing poverty under the UPA government.
"The Central government is laying emphasis on the development of rural areas by introducing new schemes and ensuring the money meant for such purposes are reaching the villages and spend judiciously," Singh said adding by 2020, India will be standing tall with the rest of the developed nations.
The event was jointly sponsored by the Samta Gram Seva Sansthan, Patna, and Confederation of NGOs of Rural India (CNRI).
Singh talked about the National Employment Guarantee Scheme under which at least one member of a family would be guaranteed a minimum of 100 days of employment in a year.
Emphasizing the need for improvement in the hygienic condition of all the villages, Singh said the government was doling out Rs. 1,500 to each household in the rural areas to build toilets thus contributing to overall cleanliness of the area.
The Union Minister also emphasized the need to conserve water in the rural areas. "The North Bihar is plagued by devastating flood each year and yet there is a drought-like situation for most of the year.
"This can be overcome by proper water management through scientific means and more research," Singh said.
Junior Central Minister for Planning M. V. Rajshekharan, in his keynote address, highlighted the need for a check in the growth in population for many schemes to succeed.
Source- Patna Daily.com
