| Staff REPORTER |
ITANAGAR, Jul 9: Union Minister of Minority Affairs and Parliamentary Affairs Kiren Rijiju on Tuesday announced release of financial assistance of Rs 35 crore as the Central share to Arunachal Pradesh for ongoing projects under Pradhan Mantri Jan Vikas Karyakram (PMJVK).
Pradhan Mantri Jan Vikas Karyakram (PMJVK), a centrally sponsored scheme (CSS), is an area development programme under which community infrastructure and basic amenities are being created in the identified areas.
The Union Minister today reviewed the physical and financial status of the projects approved under PMJVK of the Ministry of Minority Affairs for the State of Arunachal Pradesh, laying a roadmap for future plans under the Karyakram.
Rijiju, the Lok Sabha MP from Arunachal West constituency, also announced two new projects - one each for Kumchaikha of Diyun circle, Changlang and Pakpu Maling under Taliha circle in Upper Subansiri district.
Chief Minister Pema Khandu, Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein, Minister of Social Justice Empowerment and Tribal Affairs (SJETA) Kento Jini and MLA and Advisor to Minister (SJETA) Rode Bui were present during the review meeting.
The Government of India is committed to developing minorities with the "Whole of Government" approach with specific focus on the Buddhist communities primarily in the far-flung border areas in the State.
The focus is on modernizing traditional theological education and providing professional, vocational, and skill development courses for young Buddhists. A roadmap for early execution of 10 approved projects under the Buddhist Development Plan (with total estimated cost of Rs 41.07 crore) was also discussed.
This program aims at converging various ongoing schemes of the Ministry such as PMJVK, PM-Vikas, Scholarship as well as the programs and the schemes being administered by the National Minorities Development Finance Corporation Ltd. (NMDFC).
Over Rs 840 Cr spent for Arunachal
Later, while addressing a press conference at the Civil Secretariat here, the Union Minister for Minority Affairs said that more than Rs 840 crore had been spent for Arunachal Pradesh under Pradhan Mantri Jan Vikas Yojana.
He expressed satisfaction over the presentation of the state government on the various schemes carried out under the ministry during the review meeting today. “After seeing the presentation of the schemes, I can say that the implementations have been satisfactory. Physical infrastructure developments of the schemes have been done properly,” he said, adding that the education sector had received the highest number of schemes.
He, however, said that geo-tagging of the schemes is still lagging behind. Rijiju informed that during the meeting, CM Khandu directed for all the schemes implemented under the Ministry to be geo-tagged within a month.
While informing that the state government has sought relaxation for works on few blocks that were facing problems, he said that relaxation would be granted so that all the schemes can be implemented properly in blocks as well as districts.
The Union Minister said that his ministry wants to give priority to health, youth affairs and sports sectors and drinking water supply.
Speaking about skill training of youths, he said multipurpose schemes would be developed for them to skill them as well as to provide them opportunities. He informed that the state government has requested for ‘Hunar Hut’- a place that would provide space to train, produce and sell local handicraft items and one has been finalized.
Vowing that his ministry will focus on women empowerment, he said he has asked the Arunachal government to work on priority for the womenfolk. He assured to provide budgetary support for the SJETA department to supplement the schemes.
Tender for Frontier Highway: The Union Minister informed that tendering process for the Frontier Highway along Indo-China border has been initiated. He said that the highway will cost around Rs 40,000 crore which will be the highest in the country for a single largest road project.
He also assured that all the villagers in the area of the road project will receive land compensation. He also said that along the border with Assam an Industrial Corridor Road project is in the final stage and the DPR preparation for the said project is in progress.