Date:01/01/2009 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2009/01/01/stories/2009010159430600.htm

Tamil Nadu

Poverty alleviation project to be implemented

Staff Reporter

THENI: Vazhndhu Kaattuvom project, an empowerment and poverty alleviation programme, would be implemented in all 30 village panchayats in Andipatti taluk in 2009. Main objective of the project is to empower poor and improve their livelihood besides reducing poverty at villages, according to Collector P. Muthu Veeran.

Talking to reporters here on Wednesday, he said that developing and strengthening pro-poor institutions at villages and building capacity and skills of poor were other objectives.

A Village Poverty Reduction Committee, comprising three persons from target groups and two outsiders, and Social Audit Committee would be constituted in all the chosen panchayats. While VPRC would implement various components of the project and the SAC would audit fund utilisation. With out approval of the SAC, funds could not be availed further, he added.

After adequate capacity building, funds would be transferred directly to VPRC for execution. The identification of the poor, including disabled and vulnerable would be done by the community using participatory identification of poor methodology. Formation of SHGs and training and monitoring would also be done through VPRC without involvement of NGOs. A five member project facilitation team has been set up for cluster levels. Each cluster has 10 villages, said Mr. Muthu Veeran.