Vikas Maitri
Voluntary Development Society in Jharkhand
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www.vikasmaitri.org |
website for rural and tribal development |
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Vikas Maitri |
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Voluntary Development Society in Jharkhand |
Union Finance Minister Mr. P. Chidambaram introduced the general budget on 28 February 2005. He has substantially increased (36.5%) the National Food for Work programme to be converted into National Rural Employment Guarantee scheme. The budget allocates funds for National Rural Health Mission with components like training of health volunteers, more medicine and strengthening of primary & community health centres. There will be additional coverage of families under Antyodaya Anna Yojana. Under ICDS additional anganwadi centres to be opened and supplementary nutrition norms to be doubled. Mid-day Meal scheme has been allocated 56% increase. A non lapsable fund to be created for education under Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan. Provision for drinking water facilities have been made under Rajiv Gandhi National Drinking Water Mission. New scholarships introduced for Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribes candidates for higher education. Gender budget to be introduced to cover women & children. A backward Regions Grant Fund to be established. Under Bharat Nirman funds for irrigation, roads houses, village electricity and telephone connectivity have been assured. Agriculture will be strengthened by promoting sectoral programme and developing marketing infrastructure. Other
programmes relate to water resources, micro irrigation, rural credit, farm
insurance, micro insurance micro finance, village knowledge centres and
agricultural research. |