Union Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh today assured Arunachal Pradesh to allocate additional fund for covering more areas under the Integrated Watershed Management Programme (IWMP).The minister’s assurance came when Lok Sabha member from Arunachal Takam Sanjoy called on the minister, official sources informed. “I’m aware of the problems of the land–locked state and therefore would have special consideration for the tribal people of Arunachal Pradesh,” Ramesh told the MP, besides informing that the announcement he had made for Seppa–Lada road under the PMGSY for improving connectivity of the land–locked state has also been sanctioned. Lada, a circle headquarters of remote East Kameng district, is one of the 22 unconnected administrative centres of the state. It may be recalled here that Ramesh during his visit to the Himalayan state in February last had announced special housing package for Puroiks (bonded labourers) besides assuring the chief minister of his ministry’s full cooperation for state’s speedy development. The MP urged the minister for funds for brining at least two lakh hacatre against the earmarked 45,000 lakh hacatre as agriculture–horticulture is the mainstay of tribal people of state’s agrarian communities. This would facilitate to cover 60 assembly constituencies spread in 17 districts and serve as boon to the rural masses, mostly who live in far–flung and inaccessible areas. Moreover, the project is very popular amongst the farmers, local villagers, panchayat members and MLAs, Sanjoy said. Only 45,000 lakh hectares area under the IWMP was approved during this fiscal (2013–14) against 3.97 lakh hactare earmarked. The area earmarked for 12th Five Year Plan period (2012–13 to 2016–17) is 15.87 lakh hectares. Therefore, additional area would help the state government in enforcing poverty alleviation programme and employment generation, its top priority agenda, especially for encouraging massive rubber and tea cultivation, the MP said to justify his plea. The present government headed by Tuki has announced to generate one lakh employment opportunities during the 12 plan period, sources added.