Minister for IT, Panchayat Raj & Rural Development Nara Lokesh assumed charge at V block of Secretariat today. He signed first file relating to providing LED bulbs in all villages. The State government provided LED bulbs in 450 villages so far and planning to cover the remaining 12,900 village in three years.
Speaking to mediapersons later, Lokesh said priority would be given to provide employment opportunities to youth in a big way by developing both IT and electronic sectors. Stating that Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu was a brand ambassador for development of IT, Lokesh said the State govt would discuss with Centre and US authorities to resolve the problems being faced by youth with recent VISA restrictions.
Later participating in a workshop on rural development, the minister said all the villages should be developed as model villages and the state should be ahead in rural development in the country. He said 1340 villages should be developed as model villages in the coming two years under NREGS. He said that he adopted Nimmakur village in Krishna district.
The officials said that under ground drainage system was introduced in eleven villages of West Godavari district including Jagannadhapuram and Singarajupalem with 70 per cent NREGS funds, 20 per cent ZP funds and ten percent contribution from villagers.
The minister directed the officials to submit a report on proposals to complete the underground drainage system in villages in a short period.(NSS)