Meet of Bharat Nirman Volunteers begins

The number of these volunteers is set to touch 4.5 lakh by the end of this year.

This was highlighted at a three-day colloquium which began here in the presence of Bharat Nirman Volunteers from 25 states, wherein the progress of the initiative and the scope for the programme's expansion was discussed.

At the function, state rural development minister Mahendrajeet Singh Malviya gave away the rural community empowerment awards to the representatives of the State Institutes of Rural Development as well as distinguished Bharat Nirman Volunteers.

The spirit to serve the nation selflessly without expecting anything in return would make the programme successful, Malviya said on the occasion.

 

The 'Lab to Land' approach would help in improving rural infrastructure and take facilities available in cities to far-off villages, he said, adding that the volunteers could make officials like Patwari, nurses and school teachers more responsible and generate confidence among the villagers.

Niten Chandra Joint Secretary, Rural Development, Government of India, said that a huge disconnect between the Rural Development Ministry and the people at large was being noticed for quite some time, which generated the idea for the initiative launched in 2010.

People selected as volunteers are master trainers, who generate awareness among villagers about the benefits of various government-run schemes.

In Rajasthan, 21,000 volunteers have been associated with the initiative, a senior official said.