RJD discusses changes in CM Area Development Scheme

RJD ministers today held a meeting to discuss some of the changes it intends to bring in the Chief Minister Area Development Scheme (CMADS).
In 2011, CMADS replaced Local Area Development Fund used by MLAs for carrying out development in their areas.
The meeting was held in view of RJD supremo Lalu Prasad expressing concern over frequent fire incidents and looming water crisis in the state due to heatwave conditions prevailing in the state for the past couple of days.
Emerging out of the meeting, state cooperative minister Alok Kumar Mehta said some of the changes to the (CMADS) were discussed in today's meeting.

"Some of the amendments to CMADS were discussed by the ministers at a meeting convened by Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav...It was also discussed that some of the small, but people-centric schemes should be added in the scheme while some of the schemes should be ousted," Mehta said.
Asked about the important people-centric schemes that were discussed, Mehta said there would be partial changes in CMADS after taking into account the opinions of ministers and people's representatives in this regard.

Stating that Grand Secular Alliance's seven resolves (Saat Nischay) would be strengthened further, Mehta said there were schemes which were covered under both CMADS and Saat Nischay, hence it was discussed that some of them such as providing electricity, drinking water, drainage, lanes would be removed from CMADS.

"This is being done to avoid duplication of schemes which may give rise to irregularities," Mehta, who was accompanied by Minority Welfare minister Abdul Ghafoor, Agriculture minister Ramvichar Rai and Art, Culture and Youth department minister Shiv Chandra Ram, said.
Nitish Kumar government had in 2011 substituted the local area development funds by CMADS.
CMADS funds would be used for construction of Panchayat Sarkar Bhavan in each panchayat, Anganwadi centres, godowns in panchayats and community centres, besides construction of minor roads, lanes and culverts.
The RJD supremo had yesterday drew attention towards looming water crisis and said the government should take up digging of wells at a large scale in the state to overcome the drinking water crisis.

Prasad had said four to six wells should be dug in every village keeping in mind the problems being faced by people for getting drinking water.