Rs 2344-cr polio eradication programme cleared

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs on Friday decided to implement the polio eradication strategy recommended by experts...

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs CCEA on Friday decided to implement the polio eradication strategy recommended by experts for the period 2007-09, with an estimated expenditure of Rs 2344.56 crore.

The CCEA decided that the coverage and the number of Sub-National Immunisation Day rounds in high-risk states each year will be decided upon the recommendations of an expert committee from time to time.

Under the approved proposal, the quantum of honorarium to vaccinators and supervisors has been increased from an earlier Rs 25 and Rs 50 to Rs 75 per day.

In another decision, the CCEA approved the implementation of Panchayat Yuva Krida Aur Khel Abhiyaan PYKKA under the aegis of Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sport. Under the scheme, the Government will provide a one-time seed capital grant of Rs 1 lakh and Rs 5 lakh to each village panchayat and each block panchayat respectively.

The scheme is aimed at providing basic sports infrastructure and promoting sports activities in rural areas in a phased and time-bound manner.

Under the scheme, while village panchayats would be given annual acquisition grant and annual operational grant at Rs 10,000 and Rs 12,000 per annum, respectively, the block panchayats would be given an annual grant of Rs 20,000 and Rs 24,000 respectively for annual acquisition and annual operation cost.

Under the PYKKA, the block panchayats would be provided an additional annual competition grant of Rs 50,000 for holding block-level competitions and each district will be provided annual competition grant of Rs 3 lakh for holding district-level competitions.

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The CCEA also approved the continuation of the Scheme for Integrated Textiles Parks SITP during the 11th Plan and sanctioned 10 new parks under the scheme. The CCEA also approved the launch of the first phase of a Central sector scheme on Rejuvenation, Modernisation and Technology Upgradation of the Coir Industry with an overall cost of Rs 243 crore.

In addition, the CCEA also approved the implementation of Central Sector Plan Scheme of 8220;Assistance to States/ UTs for Conducting 18th Livestock Census8221; during the 11th Five-Year Plan period 2007012 with an outlay of Rs 301.34 crore, funded entirely by the Central Government.

The decision would help in collection of detailed data on livestock, poultry, agricultural implements and machinery, fishery statistics and infrastructure related to these sectors, which could be used as a basis for planning and formulation of schemes aimed at bringing further development in the animal husbandry, poultry and fisheries sectors.