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Shri Mani Shankar Aiyar, Minister of Panchayati Raj, Petroleum and Natural Gas has called upon the industries to invest in rural areas for converting them into rural business hubs. Chairing a “National Presentation on Rural Business Hubs-Economic Empowerment Through Panchayats” organized by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and sponsored by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj here today, Shri Mani Shankar Aiyar pointed out that industries could do value addition to locally available resources of Panchayats to the benefits of both the parties. The Panchayats in turn should give land and resources to industries for value addition and better marketing of the resources they are endowed with.
Shri Aiyar reiterated the efforts of the Ministry of Panchayati Raj to enable the Panchayati Raj institutions to function as units of self-governance. The Ministry has already initiated formulation of an Action Plan to be finalized early next year through a series of Seven Round Table Conferences of which five have already been held, where details about devolution of functions, functionaries and finances have been discussed in great detail for strengthening panchayati raj institutions. The guidelines are being finalized through popular consensus arrived at these Round Table Conferences. Strengthening of Panchayati Raj Institutions has been accepted as essential for attaining Poorna Swaraj of Gandhiji’s dream by all State Governments and Union Territories, Shri Aiyar added.
Shri Aiyar released a book on “Energising Rural Development through Panchayats” edited by Bibek Debroy, Director of Rajiv Gandhi Institute for contemporary studies New Delhi and Shri P.D. Kaushik and published by Academic Foundation in collaboration with RGICS on this occasion.
The National Presentation on Rural Business Hubs is being attended by a large number of representatives of Panchayats from States and Union Territories. The Prime Minister, Dr. Manmonan Singh will address the valedictory session of the National Presentation.
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