'Development of India possible if villages develop'

FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT

Itagar, April 24: Development of India is possible only when all villages of the country develop at par, said Union Minister Kiren Rijiju here today. “For development of villages, Panchayat Raj Institutions need to be strengthened,” the Union Minister of State for Home said while addressing a function here to celebrate the tiol Panchayati Raj Day as part of Gram Uday Se Bharat Uday Abhiyan.

“Unless the Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) are strengthened, there is no meaning of planning schemes and policies at the Centre as majority of the schemes percolated down to the grass roots,” he pointed out adding, as per the 73rd Amendment Act, development of the tion is not possible unless local self governce is strengthened.

Referring to Mahatma Gandhi and B R Ambedkar, Rijiju said that Gandhi represents the picture of rural India while Ambedkar worked tirelessly for the empowerment of the backward classes. “India will not develop sans development of North East,” he said while referring to the principle of the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre. Lauding the state government for attaching priority in the health and education sectors, Rijiju, who is a MP from the state assured to fill up the critical gap in funding for the state from the Centre.

“Various public sector undertakings (PSUs) under the union ministry of petroleum have helped us in providing equipments for various health institutions. In next three months all required equipments including ambulances will be provided to the state by the ministry under Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) schemes,” he disclosed.

Rijiju also flagged off two ambulances in the function provided by Indian Oil Corporation for Tarasso and Balijan Circle under Papum Pare district of the state.

“I have asked various PSUs to construct toilets in schools of the state and so far above 500 toilets have been constructed including several hostels,” he said.

Lamenting over the poor health facilities in the state which stands at the bottom in tiol average, the union minister asked the state government to find ways and means to strengthen the sector and further assured to provide all support from the Centre.

“Health and education cannot be compromised.... All the villages in the state should have adequate facilities for doctors, medicines and teachers. For this all the elected representatives, officials and PRIs should work in close coordition,” he said and assured to pursue the Centre for the critical gap funding in these sectors.