OneWorld.net (U.S.)

CHENNAI: Chief Minister Jayalalithaa on Tuesday launched the Rs. 717-crore World Bank-aided `Pudu Vazhvu' scheme for the economic uplift of the rural poor.

It would be implemented in 70 blocks in 15 districts over six years and would benefit 3.5 lakh families of 2,300 panchayats.

The scheme would be community-driven to enable the people to prioritise their needs. The World Bank would provide Rs. 541 crores as loan, the State Government would earmark Rs. 122 crores and the people's contribution would be Rs. 54 crores. According to an official release, Rs. 200 crores would be earmarked for rural poverty alleviation, Rs. 299 crores for livelihood development, Rs. 20 crores for sustained development of clusters of self-help groups, Rs. 70 crores for rehabilitation of weaker sections and Rs. 70 crores as incentive for best-performing panchayats.

Village poverty reduction committees would be formed in panchayats to evolve schemes and execute them.

A project facilitation team would be formed for every 10 to 15 panchayats to impart training. Besides, District Pudu Vazhvu Societies headed by Collectors and a State-level Tamil Nadu Pudu Vazhvu Society would be formed to monitor the implementation of the scheme.

In the first phase, it would be implemented in Theni, Coimbatore, Namakkal, Salem, Vellore, Tiruvannamalai and Tiruvarur districts.

In the second phase, the scheme would be extended to Cuddalore, Kancheepuram, Nagapattinam, Ramanathapuram, Tirunelveli, Tiruvallur, Tuticorin and Villupuram districts.

Website launched The Chief Minister launched a website, www.pudhuvazhvu.org, and released a handbook on the scheme.

Source: The Hindu More