More Nabard funds for Kandhamal

National bank for agriculture and rural development (Nabard) is planning to provide more funds for the infrastructure development and uplift of weaker section of people in the state's most backward Kandhamal district.

Nabard has already taken up of Rs 57crore worth projects under its Rural Infrastructure Development Fund (RIDF) in the district and asked the government agencies to identify critical gaps in the development process.

“We have asked the government agencies to identify critical gaps in infrastructure development in the district and the Nabard is ready to provide funds to fill up these gaps with an aim to economically empower the tribal people of the district", said the chief general manager of the bank ,CR Patnaik.

Patnaik, who visited Kandhamal recently, also held discussion with the government officials. The apex rural bank's decision to focus on Kandhamal assumes significance particularly in the view of the suggestions by several economists and social activists that underdevelopment of the district was one of the major causes of the recent communal violence there, which claimed at least 37 lives.

"Our aim is to achieve sustainable economic development of the tribal people in the district with their active participation", the Nabard CGM said. "If the people are engaged in their day to day activities and are economically sound, they will not indulge in the violent activities", he added

Besides the construction of small culverts, roads and minor irrigation projects, the Nabard has sanctioned two Wadi (fruit orchard) projects in the district, he said. The project envisages plantation of different fruit bearing trees over 1000 acres involving 1000 tribal people in the respective area. At least Rs 3.5 crore would be spent under each project over 7 years, he said.

The Nabard has identified at least two blocks; Raikia and Daringibadi to implement the projects and the work has already started there with the help of the NGOs. The bank will sanction two more projects in the district, he said. The climatic condition of the district is more suitable for horticulture plantations and the state government has declared Kandhamal as a "horticulture district".

The Wadi project has also been implemented by Nabard in other tribal dominated districts including Mayurbhanj and Malkanagiri.

The bank's another programme, the Pilot Project for Integrated Development (PPID) of Backward Blocks, is also being implemented in Kandhamal. The project aimed at integrated development of economic condition of the tribals, infrastructure of the area and other aspects of human development indicators like education, health, water supply etc.

This necessitates the involvement of all agencies working in grass-root level including the government, panchayat raj institutions, banks, NGOs and people's organisation. Apart from Kandhmal, the bank has undertaken such programmes in nine other districts of the state on pilot basis.