Saturday, 03 February 2024 | PNS | DEHRADUN
Villages and settlements with a population of upto 250 will be included under the Mukhyamantri Gram Sampark Yojana proposed by the Rural Works Department (RWD). The Public Works, Rural Works, Tourism and Culture minister Satpal Maharaj stated on Friday that at present there are about 2,035 settlements which are not linked to the main motor road. There are 1,142 settlements linked by kuccha roads which have not been made according to rural roads standards. A total of 3,177 villages have been included in the work plan for being linked with the main road, he said.
The minister said that the main aim of this scheme is to benefit the rural population which has not benefitted from PMGSY and other schemes. The villages which have not been connected will be selected at the district level by a committee which will be headed by the minister in-charge of the district. This committee will recommend selection of the villages on the basis of priority or descending order based on population of the villages. The department will compile the recommendations received from the districts and based on the availability of budget, send these to the State administration for approval.
Maharaj further informed that in the first phase, approval will be granted under the State plan while in the second phase the works will be funded through NABARD. The construction of rural roads under this scheme will make it convenient to transport locally cultivated produce to the markets which will enable the farmers to get proper prices for the produce, which in turn will help in raising the per capita income and improve their financial condition. Further, small and cottage industry will also develop on the basis of local products. There will be generation of employment at the local level, which will help in mitigating migration, the minister added.
