A convergence committee meeting and a one-day workshop
for the field staff of the Pudhu Vazhvu scheme to eradicate poverty in
rural households was held in Krishnagiri on Monday. The workshop was
inaugurated by Collector T.P. Rajesh.
Inaugurating
the programme, Mr. Rajesh said that the schem was being executed in 70
panchayat unions in 16 districts in the State with World Bank assistance
of Rs. 717 crore with the aim of improving livelihood activities of the
poorest of the poor, differently abled, destitute widows and orphaned
women.
On the successful implementation of the
programme, the government had allotted additional fund of Rs. 950 crore
in the second phase.
The scheme is being implemented
in 178 village panchayats in Mathur, Uthangarai, Shoolagiri,
Kelamangalam and Thalli panchayat unions.
This
programme was being implemented through participation of community and
stakeholders only.
The village committees were formed to identify
beneficiaries under the scheme. They will also decide their needs and
requirement for the uplift of the poor within their panchayts. All
training programmes will be need-based and area-specific to suit people
in a particular panchayat. Such measures will bring more benefits to the
people, he added.
Training on skill development to
rural poor youth will be the main agenda of the programme.
Beneficiaries
will be trained by experts in private institutions. Driving of light
and heavy vehicles and earthmoving equipment will also be taught to
youth and computer and self-employment training to women. Funds will
also be given for formation of SHGs, comprising differently-abled, for
setting up of small and tiny industries, he stated.
Officials
from Revenue, Rural Development, Social Welfare, Adi Dravidar Welfare,
District Industries Centre, Agriculture, and Animal Husbandry explained
various welfare schemes, subsidies and how to apply for the schemes at
the workshop.