Will ensure facilities & jobs to spur rural development: Uttar Pradesh deputy CM Keshav Prasad Maurya

Deputy chief minister Keshav Prasad Maurya, who also holds the portfolio of rural development, is all charged up and raring to go in the second innings of the Yogi Adityanath government. In an interview with Rajeev Srivastava, he discussed plans for eradication of poverty, employment generation and development of villages. Excerpts:You are holding the charge of the rural development department in the second term of the Yogi Adityanath government. Is it a challenge?There is no thrill in life without challenges. Development of villages, eradication of poverty and women empowerment have been the priority of the double-engine government. I have got the opportunity to serve the people of one lakh villages across the state. I will try to bring about a change in their lives and ensure development. I will try to bring a rural development revolution. For this, I will sit with officials to discuss possibilities and prepare a detailed plan.There is a huge difference between rural and urban infrastructure due to which rural populace has to shift to cities for employment. How will you deal with this?If we work towards poverty eradication and create jobs, the gap can be reduced. If people get opportunities at village level, they will not have to shift to cities. We will provide all facilities in villages and people from cities will want to shift to villages.When Narendra Modi took over as the Prime Minister, he exhorted people’s representatives to adopt villages. However, most of the villages still lack amenities. What are your plans to fulfil the PM’s vision?Ever since Narendra Modi has taken over as the PM, rural development and panchayati raj departments never faced any shortage of funds. Since the Akhilesh Yadav government was at the helm till 2017, the money could not reach villages. After the BJP formed the government in UP, rural development gathered momentum. Though all villages have not been developed, the situation has changed for the better. Earlier, villagers used to live in thatched huts but now they have got pucca houses under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, a toilet, medical insurance under Ayushman Scheme, and electricity. All this has changed the standard of living in villages.What will your department showcase in its 100-day action plan?In the first 100 days, the department will focus on completion of pending works. The plans for next six months and one year will certainly show drastic changes towards the welfare of the rural population.Lok Sabha elections are just two years away. What will you give to villages by that time?Villagers know what the double-engine government has given them till now. No one could have imagined that a village will have both individual and community toilets, but it’s a reality now. Electricity and other facilities are available for the rich as well as the poor. These are revolutionary changes by any means. If one wants change, it can be done, otherwise people have seen 60 years of Opposition parties’ rule.Anything specific that villages will get in two years from now?Our single-point agenda is to ensure that the benefits of schemes reach the last man without any corruption or middlemen. There is no shortage of funds at the central and state level. Each gram sabha will have a hi-tech nursery which will be run by selfhelp groups. Earlier, villagers had to cough up money due to various reasons. Women of SHGs will not only get expenses for nurseries but will also earn profits.What are your other plans?Till now, people had heard that big multinational companies were distributing nutritional food among children and women in villages. Now, as a model, two selfhelp groups are preparing nutritious food for children. Kids at anganwadis are getting nutritious food.Will this project be implemented across the state in future? Yes. We are taking it to 202 blocks. These factories will be set up by SHGs and nutritious food will be distributed by women.Ambedkar villages came up under Mayawati, Lohia villages were set up by the Akhilesh government. What are your plans?The development model of previous governments was based on caste and vote bank. We have the broader vision of ‘Sabka saath, sabka vikas’. We are developing villages for all, for those who supported us and also for those who didn’t vote for the BJP. Some gramsabhas will be developed in the name of Kalyan Singh. Other gram sabhas will be also be developed.