'Joint plan needed to remove urban-rural divide'

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, OCT. 14. The Rural Development Minister, Mr. M. Venkaiah Naidu, today called for a joint action plan with the States to remove the urban-rural disparities. There would be no politicisation of developmental works, he told a one-day conference of the State Revenue Secretaries.

He regretted that despite efforts by successive Governments, rural areas still lacked basic infrastructure, and conditions must be improved for higher economic growth.

Mr. Naidu said he planned to convene a national conference of State Revenue Ministers to evolve a consensus among States and Union territories on steps needed for a balanced development, as also time-bound action plan.

The Minister underlined the need for providing farmers `pattedar passbooks' giving information regarding land which would be a powerful instrument in their hands. Along with computerisation of land records, the measure would promote empowerment of farmers and elimination of corruption at the cutting-edge level of Governmental systems. The Centre would provide all help in this. Touching upon the need for optimum utilisation of land resources, Mr. Naidu said problems about distribution of surplus land and allotment of Government land to weaker sections should be solved. Consolidation of land holdings should be given priority for enhanced productivity. There was need for effective utilisation of funds as allocation for rural development was among the highest, after Defence.

Since land was a State subject, the Centre's role was that of a facilitator and the conference was a step in this direction.

The Minister of State for Rural Development, Ms. Rita Verma, said that a National Committee had been constituted under the Chairmanship of the Secretary, Rural Development, to look into all areas regarding consolidation of land holdings and updating of survey data and record of rights and maps through technological upgradation.

The Administrative Staff College of India, Hyderabad, was asked to conduct an indepth study of the problem in 10 States and its report being examined, she said.

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