Govt. to network 785 hoblis by March next

By Our Staff Reporter

BANGALORE, JUNE 16. The Government will network 785 hoblis in the State by March 2001, the Chief Minister, Mr. S. M. Krishna, said here on Friday.

Addressing Gandhians and social activists at the inauguration of a three-day ``National Workshop on Poverty Alleviation, Employment Generation and Rural Development,'' the Chief Minister pointed out that rural development could not be tackled in isolation.

The Government alone could not achieve anything. ``The private sector and the Government should come together for rural development to succeed and be sustainable.''

He went on to explain that each hobli would have kiosks, computer centres and call centres which would employ rural youth. ``The only eligibility required is a working knowledge of English, and computer skills.''

He believed that information technology and e-governance - the current buzzwords - had immense employment potential in rural areas. ``The State Government along with private initiative plans to `wire' the entire State and set up a digital network of 785 hoblis by March 2001.''

Mr. Krishna regretted that ``meaningful'' Government programmes such as the Public Distribution System (PDS) were often misused. ``According to the Planning Commission, though there are only 28 lakh families below poverty line in the State, around 72 lakh ration cards have been issued. ``Where is the rationale behind extending this facility to families which are above the poverty line?'' he wondered.

The Rajya Sabha member, Mr. Nanaji Deshmukh, said rural self- development had to take place for abolition of poverty. ''When India gained Independence, the Government was looked upon as a benefactor, people were taught to beg for facilities. That is why our rural areas are still poor and underdeveloped,`` he said.

At the moment, India had ''Swarthodaya,`` not ''Sarvodaya,`` he felt. He wanted people and politicians to come together for rural self- development.

The noted social activist, Mr. Anna Hazare, wondered why Mahatma Gandhi's dream of self-reliant villages had failed to become a reality. ''Now villages are emptying their people into cities. This is because ``daan'' (donation) makes people ``nadaan'' (ignorant).``

Rural development did not involve laying roads or constructing huge buildings. ''On the contrary, it needs a change in people's mindsets, in making them independent thinkers and doers,`` he said.

The Vice-Chancellor of Gandhigram Rural University, Pondichery, Dr. Markhandan, and the Akhila Bharath Sarvodaya Maha Sangh (ABSMS) President, Mr. S. V. Manjunath, spoke.

The workshop, which is on at the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan till Sunday, is being organised by the ABSMS.

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