Rural Devp Min, NGO join hands on devp activities in Naxal-hit

The Rural Development Ministry today joined hands with an NGO to carry out developmental activities which will benefit thousands of families, mostly tribals, in Naxal-affected states.
Talking to reporters after the signing of the MoU with Pradan, Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh said the scheme will be implemented in Naxal-hit districts of Chhattisgarh, Bihar, Jharkhand and Odisha in the first phase.
He said NGOs should work in these difficult areas as government agencies face a lot of problems in implementing developmental projects due to Naxal threat.
Ramesh said two projects will be taken up initially by setting up NRLM (National Rural Livelihoods Mission) support organisation on livelihoods, besides extensive training of women self help groups.

In the first project, 18,000 families will be helped through production and marketing of Tasar silk in Jharkhand, Bihar, Odisha, Chhattisgarh and West Bengal in the next three years with a budget of Rs 50 crore.
The second project will be Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana and it will be implemented in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Odisha with a budget of Rs 20 crore.

The project is likely to benefit 18,000 families, where sustainable agriculture will be promoted through women headed households and it is estimated that income of the self help groups will increase by 15 to 20 per cent by cutting on harmful chemicals and pesticides.

Third component of the programme will be training of the girls for alternative sources of livelihood.
Ramesh said the fourth issue is about the health and malnutrition problems that will be tackled by mobilising local communities.