Bharat Nirman may ameliorate rural sector

  • 19/02/2005

  • Tribune (New Delhi)

In a clear policy to pitchfork the rural economy, the government is actively considering to unveil a special scheme for rural infrastructure with a significantly enhanced budgetary outlay in 2005-06.The Prime Minister's Office (PMO) is in favour of a scheme by name of Bharat Nirman aimed primarily at improving and developing physical infrastructure in rural areas such as roads, bridges, power, irrigation and housing.Sources said that the scheme, Pura (Provision of Urban Amenities in Rural Areas), is expected to get a budgetary boost and may be dove-tailed with existing rural development schemes.In addition, the government is also considering to enhance the outlay for Integrated Wasteland Development Programme (IWDP). The IWDP is an ongoing Centrally-sponsored scheme under which major projects are undertaken on micro-watershed basis.