Members want special measures for desert areas

"The Centre should help Rajasthan to deal with the problem of drinking water," Harish Chaudhary (Cong) said moving a private member resolution seeking special economic development package for desert regions of the country.

He demanded that the compensation given to victims of fire tragedy in villages be increased from Rs 15,000 to Rs one lakh.

Chaudhary also suggested that rail network in Rajasthan be improved and the Government relax norms for opening health centres in areas with low population.

Intervening in the discussion, Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad promised to take care of the problem of people in regions with low population.

The Minister said he has identified 265 districts in which the decision to open primary health centres would not be linked to population.

Participating in the discussion, Hukumdev Narayan Yadav (BJP) regretted that Planning Commission is making policies to promote the interest of multi-national companies at the behest of World Bank.

He further said it is ironical that those who destroy environment show lot of concern about green issues.

Shailender Kumar (SP), Satpal Maharaj (Cong), S Semmalai (AIADMK), B Mahtab (BJD) and Lal Singh (Cong) also spoke.