Date:07/01/2009 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2009/01/07/stories/2009010751200300.htm

Tamil Nadu

Official inspects development works in Chengam block

Staff Reporter

“Rural job scheme helps rural women learn about normal banking activity”

“Department of Rural Development officials tour two districts in a month”
“Emphasis would be laid on ensuring quality in the work”

CHENGAM: Ramachandran, Superintendent Engineer, Department of Rural Development, Chennai, inspected development works under progress in the Chengam, Pudupalayam and Thandrambattu blocks in Tiruvannamalai district.

He also visited the Rashtriya Sam Vikas Yojana (RSVY) Computer Training Centre at the Chengam Block Development Office. Students at the training centre expressed happiness over getting an opportunity to learn basic computer applications. Majority of the students were from villages adjoining Chengam.

Mr. Ramachandran told The Hindu that officials of the Department of Rural Development continued to visit various districts to take stock of the progress of work undertaken under various government schemes.

The department aimed at eliminating any backlog. Department officials toured two districts in a month.

He would be visiting Karur in February. Expressing satisfaction over the progress of work in the Chengam block, he said that emphasis would be laid on quality.

Mr. Ramachandran said that during his visit to various districts, he had been monitoring the work undertaken under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS). Workers had been told to open bank accounts for the wages to be deposited. This was mainly to bring in a sense of savings among rural women.

This would also give the women an idea about normal banking activity and create a sense of self-confidence.

When pointed out that banks in Chengam found it difficult to open accounts owing to shortage of staff, he said that the Tiruvannamalai Collector had been regularly holding meetings with bank officials to solve the problem. In most of the cases, accounts were opened immediately. However, there had been a delay in issuing passbooks to NREGS account-holders, which would be addressed soon.

The Department of Rural Development had been constantly creating awareness of the NREGS, he said.

Speaking about some completed development works in the block, Mr. Ramachandran said that the library and burial ground had been well-constructed.