E-Paper
State to get Rs 350 crore
THE 18 districts in the State where the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS) is being implemented will also get a substantial fund for development under the Centre?s another scheme ? Backward Region Grant Fund (BRGF). While Rs 1,166 crore is earmarked for the NREGS this fiscal, the BRGF will get the State Rs 350 crore for development in 24 districts.
THE 18 districts in the State where the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS) is being implemented will also get a substantial fund for development under the Centre’s another scheme — Backward Region Grant Fund (BRGF). While Rs 1,166 crore is earmarked for the NREGS this fiscal, the BRGF will get the State Rs 350 crore for development in 24 districts.
If properly implemented, the cumulative funds can change face of districts. The 18 districts where both the schemes are being implemented are Mandla, Seoni, Dindori, Tikamgarh, Khargone, Satna, Umaria, Chhattarpur, Dhar, Badwani, Sidhi, Sheopurkalan, Betul, Shahdol, Balaghat, Shivpuri, Jhabua and Khandwa. Six other districts under the BRGF are Rajgarh, Damoh, Katni, Guna, Panna and Rewa.
State Planning Board vice-chairman Sompal Shastri is optimistic that the implementation of the two schemes will see a qualitative improvement in the life of people in these backward districts.
He told the Hindustan Times the schemes would also provide necessary capital for developing infrastructure. “The basic thrust of the BRGF scheme is to fill the gap in physical and social infrastructure,” said Principal Secretary, Panchayat and Rural Development, Pradeep Bhargawa.
The funds sanctioned under the scheme would be utilised to remove existing bottlenecks in development of the districts by paying more attention to infrastructure development, he added.
In 10 districts where the Rashtriya Sama Vikas Yojana (RSVY) is being implemented, funds will be given to complete ongoing programmes, following which the BRGF district programme will be implemented. The BRGF funds are to be provided on a 100 per cent grant basis.
