No dearth of funds for development of Malkangiri: Ramesh

"The central government will provide adequate funds to ensure speedy development of the district and make it number one", union Rural Development Minister Jayram Ramesh said during a visit to Malkangiri.

Reviewing the developmental work in the naxal-hit district, Ramesh said the Union government was providing sufficient funds for implementation of various central sponsored programmes.

It was the responsibility of the state government to ensure proper utilisation of the funds pumped in by the Centre. Besides, the people who are the beneficiaries should also remain ever vigilant, the Union Minister said.

Former Malkangiri district collector R Vineel Krishna, who had been abducted by Maoists in February last year, and had since become the private secretary to the union minister, accompanied Ramesh.

People in large numbers had lined up on road sides to catch a glimpse of Krishna and at places they garlanded him showing their affection towards the former collector.