The Hindu Business Line : Reforms in public governance will alleviate poverty: Shekhawat

Dharmasthala April 15 The Vice-President, Mr Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, has said that reforms in public governance are fundamental to any strategy towards alleviation of poverty.

Speaking at the silver jubilee celebrations of Shri Kshetra Dharmasthala Rural Development Project (SKDRDP) at Dharmasthala in Dakshina Kannada district on Saturday, he said that public programmes aimed at ameliorating the conditions of the poor ought to be effectively implemented, benefiting the targeted beneficiaries. Needs and aspirations of the poor can be met only when the public administration becomes people-oriented, he said.

Corruption tends to create mal-administration, and in the process the concerns and priority of the poor get relegated to the background. In such a situation, reforms in public governance are necessary for coming out with strategy on poverty alleviation.

`Sacred duty'

Stating that 26 crore people still live below poverty line, he said poor should have the first claim on the nation's resources. "Eliminating the scourge of poverty is the sacred duty of all of us," he said.

Stressing the need for according highest priority for rural development, he said rural incomes have dwindled and farm households have become more prone to stress and insecurity. The problem of farmers' suicide is a matter of grave anxiety.

There is a need to rejuvenate agriculture, revamp cooperative institutions, promote livestock development, strengthen rural infrastructure and develop appropriate technologies for value addition to economic activities.

Voluntary initiative

"We also need to improve connectivity to remote villages through application of information technology (IT) services," Mr Shekhawat said.

Highlighting the role of voluntary organisations in alleviating poverty and in rural development, he said voluntary sector in the country has immense potential. He termed SKDRDP as one such success story of voluntary initiative that has made a major impact in the development of the region, besides empowering the poor and marginalised sections.

Mr T.N. Chaturvedi, Karnataka Governor, Mr M.V. Rajashekharan, Union Minister for Planning, and Dr D. Veerendra Heggade, President of SKDRDP, spoke on the occasion.