Shimla: Chief minister Prem Kumar Dhumal has asked National Bank of Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) to extend the cooperative reform package to the hills state for strengthening the movement.
Speaking to Raghu Raman, chief general manager NABARD for Himachal, the chief minister said that though the reform package had been released in 18 states, Himachal even though being a special category state had not been included yet.
The chief minister acknowledged the contribution of the apex rural bank in funding agricultural and irrigation projects in the state and towards women’s empowerment by supporting self help group.
He said that state had succeeded in obtaining Rs 1513 crore NABARD funds over the last twelve years for 3,512 rural infrastructure projects out of which 2,538 projects had already been completed. He said that 6,531 villages had been linked through 445 roads and 158 bridges, 1,175 irrigation projects completed with NABARD funding.
He said that per capita investment under Rural Infrastructure Development Fund in Himachal Pradesh was the highest in the country. “Creation of rural infrastructure in hilly areas was a highly cost intensive activity,†said Dhumal.
On his part Raghu Raman informed the chief minister that the bank was providing credits worth Rs 176 crore under its different programmes to the state during current financial year.
As Editor, Ravinder Makhaik leads a team of media professionals at Hill Post.
Spanning a career of over two decades in mass communication, as a Documentary Filmmaker, TV journalist, Print Media journalist and with Online & Social Media, he brings with him a vast experience. He lives in Shimla.
