PM unveils roadmap for overall development of tribals, Rio exhorts Nagaland VDB & Village Council Conference

Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan today, at a public meeting, in Mandla in Madhya Pradesh. He unveiled a Road Map for overall development of tribals during the next five years.

The Prime Minister felicitated the Sarpanches of villages which have achieved 100 percent smokeless kitchens, 100 percent vaccination under Mission Indradhanush, and 100 percent electrification under Saubhagya Scheme.

Addressing Panchayati Raj representatives across the country, from Mandla, the Prime Minister recalled Mahatma Gandhi’s call for Gramoday to Rashtroday, and Gram Swaraj. He said he is delighted to be in Madhya Pradesh on National Panchayati Raj Day. He added that Mahatma Gandhi always highlighted the importance of villages and spoke about ‘Gram Swaraj’. He called upon everyone to reaffirm the commitment to serving our villages.

The Prime Minister said that while talking about rural development, budgets are important. But, he added, there is a shift in the discourse in the last few years. People are now talking about the need to ensure that money allocated for a project is utilised and it is done in a timely as well as transparent manner, he said.

He urged people to focus on the education of their children, and added that this is essential for the child’s future.

The Prime Minister underscored the efforts towards self-reliance in the agriculture sector. He urged the Panchayat representatives to pay attention to water conservation, and to ensure that every drop of water is conserved.

Modi spoke of the importance of Jan Dhan Yojana for financial inclusion; Van Dhan Yojana for empowering tribal communities; and Gobar-Dhan Yojana for making farmers more self reliant, besides converting waste into energy.

He said that a transformation of villages would ensure a transformation of India.

The Prime Minister also said that the recent steps taken by the Union Government will be beneficial in furthering the safety of women.

Rio exhorts Nagaland VDB & Village Council Conference

Coinciding with Gram Swaraj Abhiyan, Nagaland VDB & Village Council Conference was held on 24th April 2018 at NBCC Convention Centre, organised by Department of Rural Development.

Chief Minister, Neiphiu Rio spoke at the conference, his first major public outing where he shared about his governments new development plan and assured the Naga people that every possible effort will be taken to bring about change.

Rio also stated that the PDA government’s top agenda is to play the role of active facilitator to the ongoing peace process and the political negotiation and to contribute towards realization of an early solution that is honorable and acceptable to the people.

He called upon all section of society to create a conducive atmosphere for the peace process and to rise above differences and come together for the common good of the Naga people. He also added that the need of the hour is for Naga society to come together under a spirit of unity and reconciliation both amongst the undergrounds and the over grounds.

Describing the Village Development Boards (VDBs) as a role model for Local Self Government and Community Participation across the country, Rio pointed out that the institution of VDB is a 1238 strong organization looking into the mandate of village development and the 74 Blocks strong network has contributed immensely to the development of the villages across the State.

He also urged all the participants to introspect into the past and plan strategies for future to improve and transform the quality of life for the rural people. Rio said that the huge fund under MGNREGS can change the rural landscape of the villages if funds are leveraged, implemented and used judiciously.

Rio announced that the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, Government of India chaired by the Prime Minister has given its approval for new restructured scheme of Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan (RGSA) with a total outlay of Rs. 7255.50 crore to be implemented from 1st April 2018.

According to Rio, the scheme will be extended to all States and Kiphire was identified as the aspirational District by NITI AAYOG out of 115 districts in India which will focus on sectorial interventions to be aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals, he added.

Also highlighting about the Grant in aid to the VDBs he said the objective of the grant is intended to be used in rural areas to support & strengthen the delivery of basic civil services including water supply, sanitation, septic management, sewage & solid waste management, storm water drainage, maintenance of community assets, maintenance of roads, footpaths, street lighting etc.

Informing that the State Government was unable to provide the Grant in Aid for the year 2014 to 2018, he said, that the government will be releasing all the backlog funds of three (03) years to all the 1238 VDBs, Matching Cash Grants and Micro Finance Grants, Incentives to performing VDBs and also funds to the communitised departments of School Education, Power, Health and PHED.