PM to launch food security scheme

By Our Special Correspondent

CHENNAI, SEPT. 22. The Prime Minister, Mr. Atal Behari Vajpayee, will formally launch the `Sampoorna Gramiya Rozgar Yogna' from a village in Uttar Pradesh on September 25, which will provide food security to people in the rural areas, the Union Rural Development Minister, Mr. M. Venkaiah Naidu, said here today.

The scheme, with an annual allocation of Rs. 10,000 crores, besides providing gainful employment to villagers, would create assets in rural areas, he said speaking to presspersons.

All the employment generation schemes of the Centre would be integrated in the new scheme and the allocation of funds would be based on the poverty ratio in each State.

Works like desilting of local tanks, laying of roads, conservation of soil, harvesting of rain water, and building watershed, schools and PHC, would be taken up under the scheme. However, construction of religious buildings and major bridges would not be permitted.

Mr. Naidu said about 50 lakh tonnes of foodgrains would be allotted every year as part of wages to the people in rural areas and 50 per cent of the allotment would go directly to the panchayats.

Referring to the recent terrorist attacks in the U.S., he said the need of the hour was to join hands and fight terrorism. It was also necessary to have stringent anti-terrorism laws.

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Section  : National
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