Karnataka

Rural development project completes a year

CHIKMAGALUR: D. Veerendra Heggade, Dharmadikari of Sri Kshetra Dharmasthala, said here on Tuesday that people’s participation was important for the success of any programme.

Speaking to presspersons after reviewing the progress made by the Sri Kshetra Dharmasthala Rural Development Project after its completion of one year in Chikmagalur district, Mr. Heggade expressed satisfaction with the progress achieved by the project.

Stating that the participants in the project were not beneficiaries but stakeholders, he said the intention of the project was to provide financial assistance and information to make people living in the rural areas self-confident and economically stable.

He said the project will help in the implementation of government programmes in addition to providing information on marketing of agricultural produce.

L.H. Manjunath, executive director of the project, said 13,800 self-help groups have been formed in the district as against a target of 12,000 groups with a membership of 1.35 lakh.

Giving details of the progress achieved in the district, he said importance has been given to dairy farming and organic fertilizers and pesticides.

He said 22 milk producing unions have been established with financial assistance of Rs. 4 crore. These unions register a daily production of 12,000 litres of milk.

He said farmers have been given agricultural implements and sprayers. Nearly 200 teachers have been appointed and 1,000 benches and desks have been given to government schools.

He said Rs. 55 crore has been disbursed to 8,000 groups this year and a target of Rs. 100 crore has been set for the next year.

R. Narayanaswamy, Deputy Commissioner, spoke. N. Sundar Naik, chief executive officer of the Chikmagalur Zilla Panchayat, was present.

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