Twelve years after launching its flagship rural roads scheme, the Ministry of Rural Development is set to introduce the second version of the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana, which will focus on refurbishing the existing rural roads, by moving a proposal in the Cabinet on Thursday.

PMGSY, a Centrally sponsored scheme launched in 2000, seeks to provide all-weather road connectivity to rural areas for habitations with a population of 500 persons and above in plains and 250 and above in hilly/ desert areas. The sole focus of the scheme has been to provide new connectivity to unconnected areas. PMGSY II will focus on upgradation of existing rural roads not built under PMGSY and making capital investments to bring such roads to PMGSY standards.

The expenditure squeeze being enforced for 2012-13 and the likely freezing of the Budget size for 2013-14 could impact many welfare schemes run by the ministry of rural development (MRD) the most, although the UPA's showpiece Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) might be spared.

With economic prospects deteriorating more than initially expected by the government, the finance ministry is cutting down the budgetary allocation for this fiscal to popular schemes like Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY), Indira Awaas Yojana and National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM) by 20-25%, sources said. These cut would be seen in the revised estimate in the Budget.

Union Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh has opposed the Forest Advisory Committee recommendation to divert over 500 hectares of land in Saranda forest division of Jharkhand for iron ore mini

A Bill prohibiting manual scavenging can be passed in the Budget Session if Parliament exhibits its resolve to eliminate this “despicable” practice, the Rural Development Minister, Jairam Ramesh sa

The Union minister for rural development Jairam Ramesh on Monday approved the construction of two roads in Arunachal Pradesh - Bameng to Lada (55 kms) and Miao to Vijaynagar (157 kms) - in principl

Itanagar: Union Minister for Rural Development Jairam Ramesh today approved in principle construction of two roads in Arunachal Pradesh namely Bameng to Lada (55 kms) and Miao to Vijaynagar (157 kms) under Prime Minister’s Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY).

Ramesh conveyed this to Chief Minister Nabam Tuki who met him at New Delhi today to discuss various matters related to the Rural Development Sector in the State, official sources informed.

Thiruvananthapuram will be declared free of open defecation

At long last, the State capital is ready for Nirmal status, by which it will join the list of districts that have been declared free of open defecation, a major challenge to State efforts to combat contagious diseases. The work to get rid of a practice, which pointed accusing fingers at even the popular concept that the State was much ahead of others when it came to public hygiene, had begun more than a year ago with efforts to ensure latrines for all families and adequate numbers of public latrines.

Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today called on Union Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh in Delhi and urged him to ensure speedy completion of formalities related to construction of rural link roads in Punjab under the Pradhan Mantri Gramin Sadak Yojna (PMGSY).

Official sources here said the Chief Minister demanded that a sum of Rs 31 crore be released under Phase IV of the Integrated Watershed Management Programme for development of state’s kandi areas as well as the balance of Rs 91 crore under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) budget.

‘Cos, both PSUs & private, have neither operated in an environmentally sustainable manner, nor socially beneficial manner’

“Mining only leads to greater poverty,” Jairam Ramesh, Union Minister of Rural Development explained to the tribals of Lanjigarh, Odisha at the foothills of the Niyamgiri hills. This is the union minister's first visit to the naxal-affected Kalahandi district, a political tinderbox, where tribal interests are ranged against big corporates. Mr Ramesh insisted his visit was part of his agenda to visit all naxal affected districts and fight extremism with increased rural development.

Tells VAL to look for bauxite beyond Niyamgiri for its refinery

Union Minister for Rural Development, Jayaram Ramesh on Sunday announced a package worth Rs 300-crore envisaging construction of houses and roads for the Dongaria and Kutia Kandhas, a primitive tribes group (PTG), living at the foot-hill of Odisha’s bauxite rich Niyamgiri mountain in Kalahandi district. The package includes Rs 200-core for construction of 2100 houses under Indira Awas Yojana (IAY) and laying of rural roads to all villages with a population of 250 and more in Kalahandi district with an outlay of Rs 100 crore under Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY).