With the bureaucratic machinery failing to deliver desired results, the Centre is tapping professionals from the open market to ensure better implementation of its flagship programmes, National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM) and MGNREGA at both national and State level. It has invited letters for Expression of Interest (EOI) from qualified and experienced consultancy firms for management support for the NRLM which aims to mobilise seven crore below poverty level (BPL) households...

-PTI   Union Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh today said he would visit some of the Naxal-hit areas in Orissa to oversee implementation of different social welfare schemes like MGNREGA, PMGSY, IAY and National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM). Ramesh, who would start field tour from tomorrow morning, was scheduled to arrive here this night. "Focus of my visit is to see implementation of rural development schemes in Naxal-hit districts of Orissa," Ramesh told...

To promote self-employment among people living below poverty line (BPL), particularly women, the rural development ministry proposes to set up a dedicated national bank for women self-help groups (SHGs) and also lower the interest rate on the credit they receive from any nationalized bank. Rural development minister Jairam Ramesh on Monday said he will soon take up both these proposals with the finance ministry. “We have proposed a detailed paper for a...

New rural development minister Jairam Ramesh, who declared his intent to focus on Naxal-hit areas on the day he took charge, is set to visit these. Ramesh, who his ministry officials describe as a man in a hurry, is setting off to Raipur, Jagdalpur and a few more places in Chhattisgarh. The visit is likely this week, sources said. At the signing of a loan agreement today with the World Bank...

-PTI   A number of issues pertaining to rural development programmes such as Swarnjayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana, National Rural Livelihoods Mission and National Rural Employment Guarantee Act are likely to be discussed in a two-day conference beginning here tomorrow. Besides monitoring and evaluation of the development programmes, issues relating to District Rural Development Agency (DRDA) administration scheme will be discussed in the conference to be inaugurated and chaired by Minister of Rural...