The UPA flagship MGNREGA will now be used to address Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s concerns over lack of development in the tribal areas.
Taking note of the lack of coordination between various implementing agencies involved in tribal welfare, the rural development ministry wants the various schemes under the ministry of tribal affairs to be converged with MGNREGA.
To explore this model, the rural development ministry has set up a working group to suggest ways to enhance productivity of the tribal people. The group will also suggest model pilot project to meet the aim and submit its report in two months.
The pilot project intends to bring changes in the farming systems of the poor and deprived tribal farmers, who are excluded from the mainstream development.
Since women will also be involved in planning, execution and reviews of the project, the move will empower women farmers. It will also enable food and nutrition security of women and children of these communities.
The government wants tribals who have benefited under Forest Rights Act should ask for work under MGNREGA.
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Cong to give Scorpios to Bihar leaders
Age Correspondent
New Delhi
Hoping to repeat its UP success in Bihar, the Congress has decided to withdraw vehicles (Scorpios) given to District Congress Committee (DCC) presidents of the largest state before last year’s Lok Sabha polls and redistribute them to their Bihar counterparts ahead of Assembly elections scheduled for October-November this year.
Informing that a few of the Bihar DCC presidents have already been given the vehicles, sources said, “All the 70 DCC presidents in UP had got SUV Scorpio ahead of Lok Sabha elections last year. Now, since the Assembly elections are due in Bihar, the party has decided to provide vehicles to the key functionaries including DPCC presidents for their smooth mobility during electioneering.”
For the purpose, a decision has been taken to withdraw vehicles from UP DPCC presidents and handover them to their Bihar counterparts, the sources added. In Bihar there are 38 districts and each of them has a committee.