Pilot project for Adi Dravidars launched

CUDDALORE:

          Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment Mukul Wasnik launched the Prime Minister Adarsh Gram Yojana (PMAGY), a pilot project, at Parathur about 15 km from Chidambaram, on Friday.

          Mr. Wasnik said that the project was being launched on an experimental basis in 1,000 villages, where the Scheduled Castes constituted over 50 per cent of population, in five States in different regions of the country.

          In all, there were 44,800 such villages in 25 States across the country. As far as Tamil Nadu was concerned, 68 villages in Cuddalore district and 157 in Tiruvarur districts had been selected for the project. The main objective of the project was to enable everybody in the Adi Dravidar settlements to lead life with dignity. It was a matter of concern that even in the 21st century there were instances of atrocities against the Scheduled Caste. In terms of development, the country had made rapid strides but even today a large part of the country was facing problems of illiteracy, poverty and malnutrition.

              The PMAGY aimed at removing disparity between the SCs and non-SCs living in the same place. Under the project, every village would be provided a financial assistance of Rs. 10 lakh to improve the basic amenities and infrastructure.

Mr. Wasnik said that the implementing officials should accomplish the following aspects:

           In all identified villages, poverty should be reduced by at least 50 per cent, infant mortality rate should be scaled down to 30 for every 1,000 live births and maternal mortality rate to 100 for every one lakh cases.

            There must be 100 per cent institutionalised child delivery and full immunisation of children, cent per cent enrollment and retention of students from Class I to VIII, access to protected drinking water, registration of all births and deaths, abolition of child marriages and child labour, no public consumption of liquor and any other intoxicants, and, inclusion of all eligible families under the Indira Awaz Yojana.

            Mr. Wasnik also inaugurated a community hall, a playground and distributed sports articles. Health Minister M.R.K. Panneerselvam, Adi Dravidar Welfare Minister A. Tamilarasi, Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi leader Thol.Thirumavalavan, and Collector P.Seetharaman were present.