2,501 SC/ST villages on state govt lens for facelift

Under the scheme,the government selects villages having more than 50 per cent population of Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe people.

The selected villages would get internal and approach roads,drains,power,drinking water and toilets. Community centres would also be developed and houses would be provided to poor on a priority under the scheme. Agriculture and residential land would also be provided to landless villagers.

Sources said the state government would spend over Rs 2,500 crore for the development of these villages. At least Rs 50 lakh would be provided for development of concrete roads and drains in every identified village. As per the policy for the scheme for 2011-12,roads of length more than 50 metre would be developed by UP Public Works Department (UPPWD) while of length up to 50 metre would be developed by Panchayati Raj Department.

Among all the divisions,the maximum number of villages ¿ 493 ¿ have been selected in Lucknow division,followed by 243 in Varanasi,233 in Azamgarh,150 in Allahabad,141 in Gorakhpur,140 in Moradabad,119 in Faizabad,114 in Kanpur ,107 in Basti and 105 in Bareilly divisions.

Sources said these villages are planned to be illuminated with around 10,000 solar lights. Around 2000 community centres are planned to be developed in these villages. Development agencies have directed to saturate the new Ambedkar villages with all proposed services by December 31.

“The list of the villages have been sent to the district authorities to start the process for implementation of the scheme,” said Balvinder Kumar,Principal Secretary,Ambedkar Gram Sabha Vikas department.

The state government is yet to select Ambedkar villages in Naxal-affected area like Sonbhadra,Chandauli,Mirzapur and Deoria. “The policy for Ambedkar villages in Naxal-affected areas would be finalised soon,” said Balvinder Kumar.

Under the scheme,Panchayati Raj Vibhag would develop toilets and PWD would develop connecting roads. PWD and Rural Engineering Services department would jointly develop cement concrete roads and underground drains. Power department would do electrification. Rural development and revenue departments would provide land to the villagers on lease for agriculture and housing purpose.