Ranchi, Oct. 16: The development of villages will ensure the development of the Nation. Government of Jharkhand is all set to make this dream come true with the active participation of villagers.
This was observed by Neelkanth Singh Munda, state Rural Development Minister while speaking to scribes at Suchna Bhavan on Sunday.
With a view to empower and develop the villages of Jharkhand, Chief Minister Raghubar Das is going to inaugurate the Gram Sabha at Littipara panchayat of Pakur district, informed Munda.
Munda further added, �We have got an opportunity to realize the dreams of our ancestors. We will empower and develop our villages and place them on the tourism map of India. Villages of Jharkhand have many tourist spots and the state government is all set to develop them.
According to the proposed schemes of Neeti Ayog, the state government has initiated empowerment and development schemes for villages, said Munda.
While giving details of the programme to media, he said, �State-wide Gram Sabhas will be organised from 19th October to 31st October. During these Gram Sabhas, villagers will participate and plan long term development schemes for their revenue villages and implementation methodology of schemes.�
The minister went on to inform that the villagers will discuss and make plans in the fields of agriculture, land development, minor irrigation, animal husbandry, Health and Nutrition, education and skill development, forests and environment, energy and non-conventional energy source, food security, social security pension, housing and infrastructure, women and child welfare and other social issues during the two day long Gram Sabha.
During the Gram Sabhas previous plans and their current status will also be discussed to achieve the goal of sustainable development, Munda said, adding that after collecting priority list of Gram Sabhas, the state government will plan development schemes for Panchayats by 3rd November, 2016.
�The state government is trying to educate the village folk against social prejudices, superstitions and other ills. In order to strengthen the Panchayati Raj system, all MPs, MLAs, public representatives, administrative officers and other social organizations should actively participate in Gram Sabhas,� Munda said.
Munda said the Rural Development Department had initiated digging of 5 Lakh farm ponds and digging work of 1.25 lakh farm ponds has been completed.
Sukhmit Singh Bhatia, Principal Secretary, Rural Development department, Vandana Dadel ,Secretary, Panchayati Raj Department, Arun Kumar , Secretary, Rural Development, Siddharth Tripathy, Commissioner MANREGA, Director Panchayati Raj, Sivendra Singh and Director IPRD Awadhesh Kumar Pandey were present on the occasion.