Govt asks industries to invest in rural areas

Reaching out to India Inc, government on Monday invited them to invest in the rural development sector to bring sustainable growth in rural areas.

The appeal was made by rural development ministry secretary B K Sinha to industries and corporates to collaborate with the ministry in its wage employment programme Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act and self-employment programme Swarnajayanti Gram Swarojgar Yojna.

Addressing a national summit on rural development organised in New Delhi by the Confederation of Indian Industry, he also called upon them to forge a partnership with the government in its training and skill development programmes.

They can also consider participating in rural infrastructure development programmes like road construction work under Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojna , Sinha said.

He said NREGA has reduced distress migration in the country and brought a vast area of land under agriculture operation since activities on the land of small and marginal farmers have also been now permitted by an amendment in the Act.

He suggested that institutional support could also be provided to Panchayati Raj Institutions by industries and corporates.

"All these can be done under their Corporate Social Responsibility." Sinha said NREGA wages have made an impact on agriculture wages and brought a 'significant' balance between the large and medium farming class of the country.

This may lead to disintegration of large and medium farms in the country and rise in area operated by small and marginal farmers, he said.

The acid test of the programme will be that if agriculture production of the country grows over 5 per cent over the next five years, Sinha said.

Speaking on the occasion, CII Director General Chandrajeet Banerjee said, "CII is committed to this area of work. . . two decades ago, we felt that industries need to get involved , not for charity but business."

A large section of the corporate sector was showing interest in the area of rural development sector, he said adding, "we find huge opportunities. . . the area of our partnership (with the government) would be much intense in the next few months."