Meet to 'micro-analyse' backward areas in 120 dts.

By Our Special Correspondent

BANGALORE, JULY 11. The former Prime Minister, Mr.P.V.Narasimha Rao, will preside over the third national conference on "Backward Areas", in Bangalore from July 13.

The two-day conference, being organised by the Swami Ramananda Tirth Institute of Socio-Economic Research and National Integration, Hyderabad, is being hosted by the Department of Rural Development, Government of Karnataka.

Mr.Narasimha Rao, the brain behind the institute, gave a preview of the conference at a press conference here today, and said that the meet would "micro-analyse" issues concerning backwardness in 120 districts that had been identified as being backward in the country.

He said the conference would suggest to State governments the formulation of special packages to remove backwardness in the identified districts.

Mr.Rao said that the first conference held at Hyderabad had evolved a broad framework, and that this conference would finalise the programmes to eradicate backwardness.

He pointed out that there was gradation in such backwardness among the states. A district identified as being most backward in a State such as Punjab, which was considered to be a progressive one, might not be similar to a backward region in other States.

He said the location and availability of natural resources also contributed to the backwardness of a region. A place located close to the State capital was much better off when compared to a distant place. The conferences held earlier had assessed the contributory factors to backwardness.

He said the conference would be qualitatively different from the earlier ones as it would identify the causes for backwardness and the steps to be taken to remove it.

When asked whether the Congress, which had ruled the country for 45 years, was not responsible for such backwardness, Mr.Rao shot back: "At least four-fifths of the area has been developed, and only one-fifth remains backward."

Replying to another question, Mr.Rao said that the conference had identified a few themes for deliberation such as agricultural productivity, human resource development, the non-farm sector and institutional aspects.

On being asked how much time was required to bring the backward districts on a par with developed ones, Mr.Rao said that in his opinion it should not be more than two Five-Year Plans.

Mr.Rao brushed aside questions on the political situation and the Indo-Pakistan summit, and quipped: "You are straying. Even cattle are not allowed to stray nowadays," and added, "Wait for 48 hours."

Referring to the conference, Mr.Rao said that invitations had been sent to industrialists, NGOs, science and technology organisations, people's representatives and officials from the districts, and experts. The conference would finalise an action plan to be taken up with the Planning Commission and the Government of India later.

Mr.Rao thanked the Chief Minister, Mr.S.M.Krishna, for agreeing to host the conference. Mr.Krishna had also urged the institute not to delay holding the conference in Bangalore.

While both the inaugural and valedictory functions would be presided over by Mr.Rao, the Governor, Ms.V.S.Ramadevi would be the chief guest at the valedictory function.

The Chief Minister, would inaugurate the conference, and the Union Minister for Rural Development, Mr.M.Venkaiah Naidu would be the chief guest. While the inaugural function would be held in the Banquet Hall of the Vidhana Soudha, the deliberations would be held at the National Institute of Advanced Studies.

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