The Hindu Business Line : AP Govt plans rural thrust thru bank linkages

THE Andhra Pradesh Government plans for thrust on rural development programmes with reference to job creation, bank linkage for self-help groups and focus on collective marketing capabilities.

Bank linkage worth about Rs 260.13 crore was provided to 56,203 self-help groups (SHGs) during the first quarter this year. Three lakh SHGs will receive Rs 2,200 crore SHG-Bank Linkage.

At a review meeting of various programmes under the Rural development department here on Thursday, the State Chief Minister, Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, was appraised about the first quarter achievements of Indira Kranthi Patham wherein 2,80,000 poor families will secure income-generating assets worth Rs 280 crore in 2005-06. Of this 1.4 lakh SCs, 28,000 STs, 92,000 BCs and others benefited till date.

About 1.38 lakh families were benefited out of 6,00,000 families from food security scheme or Rice Credit Line. During 2005-06, 8,000 acres of irrigated lands will be purchased and given to 8,000 landless poor families out of which 628 acres were handed over to 645 families till date. And 1,449 jobs offered to rural unemployed youth out of 20,000 jobs in service sector.

Marketing interventions have commenced in 21 districts, in more than 172 Mandal Samakhyas involving 610 village organisations. The Chief Minister directed the officials to impart training to a maximum number of people in collective marketing.

Presently, 5,000 community leaders are being trained in the area of collective marketing and 1,500 procurement centres will be operational with necessary infrastructure. Working capital requirement will be provided to facilitate marketing. Alongside, 1,000 community members will be trained in record keeping.

Further, village organisations have procured 1,80,000 quintals of various commodities during 2004-05 and the total turnover has reached Rs 16.8 crore this year.

After the Project Intervention taken up in the procurement of neem seed, village officers and Mandal Mahila Samakhyas are collecting neem and cash is being paid on the spot. The benefits of collective marketing of neem seed has resulted in better price with average price offered this year at Rs 1.9 per kg as a against Rs 1.5 per kg last year.

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