UNICEF joins hands with govt for uplift of rural populace

The focus would be on sanitation and improving hygiene for a “healthy society”,it said.

“This was agreed during a meeting of Anthony Lake,Executive Director,United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) with the Union Minister for Rural Development and Panchayati Raj C P Joshi here today,” it added.

The Rural Development Minister said efforts should be made to increase the capacity at the panchayat level and improve the service delivery systems in the rural areas.

“The emphasis should be on economic empowerment of the vulnerable sections of society,provision of safe drinking water and sanitation,specially in the schools,and providing internet connectivity at Panchayats,” he said.

Joshi said progress is visible with the implementation of social welfare schemes in the rural areas but underlined the need to do a lot more by applying the concept of convergence with other ministries in providing basic amenities.

He also said there was scope for cooperation with UNICEF in raising awareness among people about issues related to health,hygiene and sanitation in villages.

“Another area could be the training of the functionaries towards effective implementation of the welfare schemes,” he said.