Financial Daily from THE HINDU group of publications
Friday, Feb 07, 2003
Financial Daily from THE HINDU group of publications Friday, Feb 07, 2003 |
|
|
|
|
|
Industry & Economy
-
Rural Development Velugu second phase to be implemented soon Our Bureau
HYDERABAD, Feb. 6 PHASE-2 of the World Bank-funded `Velugu' project being spearheaded by the Society for Elimination of Rural Poverty (SERP) in Andhra Pradesh is all set to get the clearance from the Bank's Board which meets on February 18. According to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Velugu project, Mr T. VijayKumar, the Rs 1,500-crore second phase is expected to cover 548 mandals in 16 districts of the State. In the five-year project, even coastal fishermen have been brought in to ensure that all people in the most backward mandals are covered. The first phase of the Velugu project, also for a duration of five years, received World Bank funds in the form of a soft loan of Rs 600 crore. It has been engaged in the implementation of district poverty initiatives project (Velugu) in six districts and 180 mandals of the State. The first phase began in 2000, Mr VijayKumar told newspersons today. SERP, an autonomous society funded by the World Bank loan, is implementing these projects through various approaches, involving NGOs, self-help groups (SHGs), foundations with the primary focus on involving and empowering rural poor, especially at the grass roots, he said. In phase 2, for which all the preparatory work has been completed, a new component being added was `disability'. The idea was to empower people with various disabilities, who have hitherto been ignored in various programmes. The World Bank has also laid special emphasis on the issue and its first-ever adviser, disability and development in the Human Development Network, Ms Judith E. Heumann is currently visiting some of the Velugu projects. Ms Heumann who has the task of integrating disability considerations into the project design, said that the preliminary projects at Medipally in Yacharam mandal of Ranga Reddy, which she visited along with other Bank and Velugu officials was an interesting model. Parents, especially mothers of children with different disabilities have, with the help of an NGO, formed into small thrift groups, building up funds that could be used for the children's future security, education and getting benefits. Ms Heumann would meet and discuss with officials of various implementing agencies like the SERP, advocacy groups, NGO's, key ministers and civil society representatives during her visit to the State and also later in New Delhi.
Article E-Mail :: Comment :: Syndication
|
Stories in this Section |
|
The Hindu Group: Home | About Us | Copyright | Archives | Contacts | Subscription Group Sites: The Hindu | Business Line | The Sportstar | Frontline | Home |
Copyright © 2003, The
Hindu Business Line. Republication or redissemination of the contents of
this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of
The Hindu Business Line
|