Rahul set to launch aam sipahi' programme in Assam

GUWAHATI: When the Congress-led UPA government was voted to power in 2004, it promised the aam aadmi' benefits of transparency and accountability in governance. The Centre then came up with the Rozgaar Guarantee Act (NREGA) and Right to Information Act.

And when UPA was re-elected to power in 2009, much credit went to Rahul Gandhi, who helped Congress to consolidate its position in Uttar Pradesh and Punjab among other states through his aam aadmi ka sipahi' (AAKS) programme.

Now, the AICC general secretary is all set to launch the state level convention of aam aadmi ka sipahi' (AAKS) here on July 18.

The idea is to train local youngsters in different ways of communicating at the grassroots and popularizing the UPA's flagship programme NREGA and use of RTI. Accompanying him will be a Microsoft team ready to train people in e-governance and computer literacy.

The report card on implementation of the NREGA is below par and funds are largely unutilized. State chief co-ordinator of AAKS Jayanta Malla Baruah said the programme will help them stand up for their rights.

"People have to learn to stand against misuse of public funds by the bureaucracy and politicians. They must raise their voice against the guilty, even if it happens to be the ruling party. We are working as a socio-political organization," Baruah said.

On a broader perspective, Rahul will show how lack of development in the state leads to unemployment and, in many cases, forces a number of youths to join rebel groups. Baruah said Gandhi will also hold discussions with youth groups, including NSUI, on how to develop the state and stop youths from doing anti-social activities.

About 800 people are expected to turn up for the three-day programme. Officials from the State Institute of Rural Development and National Institute of Rural Development will host the programme and talk about the NREGA. Simultaneously, the team from Microsoft will elaborately talk about e-governance and computer education.

"After the training, these people will go back to their respective blocks and districts and train the masses. They will help people get a job card, know the daily wage offered, how to get the money and lots more about the NREGA," Assam Pradesh Youth Congress spokesman Prabir Kalita said.

"On the first day 6,500 youths from the state and about 500 other representatives from other states besides chief ministers from the region," he added.

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Only 10 paise out of Rs 100 reache beneficiaries: Rahul

GANGTOK, April 26 : AICC general secretary Rahul Gandhi today said that mismanagement of Central funds continued to be a major bane in the implementation of the Central development and welfare schemes for a long time and claimed ‘only 10 paise out of Rs 100 reaches beneficiaries even now’.

“My father Rajiv Gandhi used to say that only ten paise out of Rs One reached genuine people, but I say that the needy people still get 10 paise out of Rs 100 under the Central development and welfare schemes,” he told a public meeting at Paljor Stadium here.

The country has no shortage of funds, but the same has to be used judiciously so that genuine and needy people benefit from development and welfare projects, Gandhi said. The youth leader added that it was the State Governments that should be blamed for the unsatisfactory implementation of the Central schemes like the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA).

The Centre could only design programmes or schemes for the benefit of the people, but the onus lies with the State Government for implementing them to ensure that the fruits of such schemes reached the needy, he said. Rahul pointed out that a number of States have not sincerely implemented NRGEA, which was meant to provide 100 days employment to poor people.

Discounting the impact of the global meltdown in the past two years on the Indian economy, Rahul said that the country has made rapid strides in terms of economic development in the past five years under the leadership of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

The country has registered a growth of nine per cent during the five-year tenure of the UPA Government, he said and claimed that there was no shortage of funds for undertaking development work.

However, the funds should be properly utilised for the implementation of the Central welfare and development schemes, like NREGA and Mid-day meal schemes, the Congress leader said.

Gandhi, a popular youth leader, stressed formulation and implementation of policies and plans for the benefit of youth, who he said, have two major requirement – education and employment.

“There should be a thrust on providing quality education to the youth and giving them jobs in all States,” he said.

The Northeastern States should especially focus on the twin requirements of the youths, Gandhi said and praised the youths of this region for being educated, skilled and hardworking. The MP from Amethi also urged the youth to join the mainstream politics in large numbers to change its present dynamics.

The Congress general secretary also sought to correct media reports that it was his maiden visit to Sikkim and said that in fact, he was visiting the State for the second time, but after a long gap of over 20 years. “I had spent a month in Sikkim to complete the mountaineering course from the Sonam Gyatso Mountaineering Institute (SGMI) at the age of 18,” he informed. “I will visit the State again after the polls,” he said.

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Congress hopes to ride on success of NREGA, forest land right

National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) and granting of forest land right to tribals, two flagship programmes of the UPA govt may help congress electorally in Gujarat where tribal population is around 15 per cent and can influence eight seats.

Tribals, which are spread in North-Eastern and South belt of Gujarat, are the main beneficiaries of these two schemes introduced by the Congress-led UPA government.

In the state, out of 26 Lok Sabha seats, four are tribal reserved seats-Bardoli and Valsad in South Gujarat and Dahod and Chhota Udeipur in Central Gujarat.

However, apart from reserved seats, tribals have considerable presence in Panchmahal, Bharuch, Sabarkantha and Banaskantha parliamentary constituencies.

“Our main campaign centres of NREGA, which has given work to the people in tribal areas and has had a positive impact on rural economy,” said Nasvadi Congress MLA Dhirubhai Bhil.

“We also tell people that ask BJP leaders to make their stand clear regarding the employment guarantee scheme. It is important to know whether the BJP if voted to power, will continue the scheme or scrap it,” he said.

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