Deshmukh unveils 100-day development programme

quot;The Government will provide finances to the various new schemes in spite of financial hardship that the State is facing,quot; he said.

The DF Government reviewed the work of all departments during the two-day long Cabinet meeting held on November 30 and December 1. Deshmukh alleged that the previous government ignored the water supply schemes and said that the Water Conservation Department would undertake 3,300 new works in each district. A total of Rs 51 crore would be spent on the entire project with each work costing Rs 1.5 crore, he informed.

The DF Government would also set up 1,000 gram sachivalayas8217; village secretariats in 100 days at a cost of Rs 150 crore. The sachivalayas would co-ordinate with all the State offices at the revenue circle village, he said adding that the money for the scheme would be generated from the funds of MPs, MLAs and respective zilla parishads.

The State Government would recruit 15,000 teachers on a contract basis and pay Rs 2,500 as honorarium. This arrangement would save the Government Rs 90 crore as regular appointment of teachers would have cost it Rs 130 crore, he said.

The teachers would be accommodated in regular service gradually, Deshmukh added. The chief minister added that the educational qualifications for teachers working in tribal areas would be relaxed.

The State also intends to build 100 rooms in each district for schools through private participation. Similarly about 150 toilets for girls would be constructed in every district work on which would be completed by March 31, 2000, he said.

The Government plans to set up a directorate for primary education with its headquarters at Pune, Deshmukh said adding that computer education would also be imparted to primary school teachers.

The work of tarring of 1,000 km of roads in the State would be done with an aid of Rs 100 crore from NABARD, the Chief Minister said. The State would provide 25,000 new electricity connections to farmers and priority would be given to tribals and Dalits, Deshmukh said.

He said plans to provide electricity to 10,000 houses of backward class families under the Kutir Jyoti programme is also being worked out. The Government would extend financial assistance to 100 Scheduled Caste families of every district under various existing schemes, he said. The DF Government would give Rs 15,000 for the marriage of girls in orphanages, Deshmukh said.