The Jayalalitha government may have had sharp political differences with the Congress-led UPA regime and she blamed it for the all the ills of Tamil Nadu, but the State received a huge chunk of Central funds for rural development in the past three years. A sum of Rs.16,071.95 crore was released to the State over this period. This includes Rs. 7,343 crore during last fiscal.
Political wrangling with the UPA regime did not halt funding for the State government, Congress leaders say. The projects, including 100-day wage scheme under MGNREGA, watershed development and housing, were taken up with the Centre’s share, Union Minister of Rural Development and senior BJP leader Nitin Gadkari said in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha recently.
“It vindicates our stand. TN was not discriminated against by the Congress-led government and adequate funds for rural development,” TNCC chief B S Gnanadesikan said. He alleged that the accusation against Congress by ADMK had been politically motivated.
The reply by Gadkari suggested that maximum funding came through the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA). “These programmes are aimed at improving rural livelihood and overall development of rural areas through creation of employment opportunities, infrastructure and providing social assistance to the rural poor,” the Minister said. While schemes for rural connectivity and social assistance for the poor were funded fully by the Centre, the rest are funded by a share of 75%. Officials said the funding was due to the performance of the State. “The Centre is duty bound to support the State in welfare measures. And the State’s performance proved the effective functioning of the system,” said a senior Rural development official.
Fomer Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh had expressed serious reservations over the cash payment made to workers under MGNREGA, drawing a parallel between Maoist-affected States and Tamil Nadu. The allegation forced the State to open bank accounts for workers in all 12,526 panchayats.
The State gets huge sums under eight schemes, including the MGNREGA scheme, National Rural Livelihoods Mission for self-employment, India Awaas Yojana for rural housing, Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana for rural connectivity, National Social Assistance Programme and Integrated Watershed Management Programme for development of wastelands and rain-fed areas.
Political wrangling with the UPA regime did not halt funding for the State government, Congress leaders say. The projects, including 100-day wage scheme under MGNREGA, watershed development and housing, were taken up with the Centre’s share, Union Minister of Rural Development and senior BJP leader Nitin Gadkari said in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha recently.
“It vindicates our stand. TN was not discriminated against by the Congress-led government and adequate funds for rural development,” TNCC chief B S Gnanadesikan said. He alleged that the accusation against Congress by ADMK had been politically motivated.
The reply by Gadkari suggested that maximum funding came through the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA). “These programmes are aimed at improving rural livelihood and overall development of rural areas through creation of employment opportunities, infrastructure and providing social assistance to the rural poor,” the Minister said. While schemes for rural connectivity and social assistance for the poor were funded fully by the Centre, the rest are funded by a share of 75%. Officials said the funding was due to the performance of the State. “The Centre is duty bound to support the State in welfare measures. And the State’s performance proved the effective functioning of the system,” said a senior Rural development official.
Fomer Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh had expressed serious reservations over the cash payment made to workers under MGNREGA, drawing a parallel between Maoist-affected States and Tamil Nadu. The allegation forced the State to open bank accounts for workers in all 12,526 panchayats.
The State gets huge sums under eight schemes, including the MGNREGA scheme, National Rural Livelihoods Mission for self-employment, India Awaas Yojana for rural housing, Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana for rural connectivity, National Social Assistance Programme and Integrated Watershed Management Programme for development of wastelands and rain-fed areas.
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