Create awareness on welfare schemes in rural areas: Oscar

‘The government has released ` 12 crore as soft loan for Brahmavar sugar factory’

Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Oscar Fernandes has said that the gram panchayats have a major responsibility in disseminating and executing the welfare programmes initiated by the central and state governments.

Speaking at the three-day campaign organised by Bharath Nirman here on Sunday, the minister said that the gram panchayats should look into effective implementation of development programmes. The minister said that the GPs should ensure that each and every child in its jurisdiction is entitled to the provisions of the RTE Act. People especially the rural populace are unaware of the welfare schemes that are introduced by the government. Bharath Nirman campaign is helpful to create awareness among the people on the development schemes.

He said Brahmavar sugar factory is a gift by farmers to the progress of the district, however the factory has seen a downfall following financial crisis. The farmers’ decisions are given priority in the process of revival of the sugar factory. He also added that the government has taken up an initiative to revamp the Varahi irrigation project. The blueprint to resume the first phase of the project has been prepared. This will bring in new aspirations and hopes to the livelihood of farmers.

Stressing on giving priorities to amenities that help rural population, the minister said that the migration from rural to urban areas can be checked only when the rural populace feel comfortable in their settlements and they are assured of the basic amenities with supportive livelihood. 

Oscar emphasised on providing basic infrastructure facilities to rural population that connects them to the urban areas. “Better roads in rural areas will enable the rural merchants and farmers to fetch better price for their produce in urban areas. The price for the essential commodities in urban areas is much higher than in the rural market. Rural connectivity is more important and Bharath Nirman campaign will enable the execution of all the welfare programmes which would result in rural areas standing on par with urban areas in terms of basic infrastructure,” he said.

The minister added that 2.5 lakh kilometre of rural roads has been sanctioned under Prime Minister’s Gram Sadak Yojane. Inaugurating the campaign on Saturday, Minister for Urban Development, Vinay Kumar Sorake said that the state government is well aware of the pathetic condition of the farmers and labourers who worked for the now defunct Brahmavar sugar factory hence decided to release the pending arrears immediately.

“Though many cases pertaining to other sugar factories are pending in the court, the government has acted swiftly on Brahmavar factory by releasing Rs 12 crore soft loan in the first phase,” he said.

Varahi project

Sorake said that a proposal has been sent to the government on Varahi irrigation project—a project that remained incomplete even after 35 years. The new proposal aims at irrigating 128 acre of land. The bottlenecks with regard to the deemed forest has been sorted out.

MLA Pramod Madhwaraj  said that farmers should decide the future of Brahmavar factory. The government will take decision after hearing the collective opinion of the farmers.