The Hindu Business Line : AP to seek more funds under Nabard programme

THE Andhra Pradesh Government proposes to raise substantial funds from the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (Nabard) for the specially designed Remote and Interior Areas Development (RIAD) programme.

The move is expected to give a fillip to the ongoing efforts of the State towards development of remote areas in the State, according to an official release here on Sunday.

The Chief Minister, Dr Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, will seek additional funds under the Government of India's Rural Infrastructure Development Fund (RIDF) when the Nabard Chairperson, Ms Ranjana Kumar, calls on him on Monday to discuss the modalities for the proposed special project.

The RIAD programme, designed to provide protective and productive livelihood activities and raise income levels of the below poverty line families, envisages development of 3,812 villages in 18 districts as `models' in the State by taking up integrated development.

The key developmental activities under the programme include better housing, quality and protected drinking water, improved hygiene and sanitation, resolve land issues and develop water harvesting and water management, value addition to cottage, small and agro-based industries, expanding employment and livelihood opportunities, forestry and environment protection and vocational and higher education.

According to the release, a detailed visual presentation would be made to the Nabard Chairperson during her meeting with the Chief Minister on the benefits of RIAD and how it would ensure focussed approach to achieve a holistic development of villages.

In the first phase, it is proposed to cover around 600 villages in seven districts - Ananthapur, Kurnool, Kadapa, Guntur, Prakasam, Nellore and Mahabubnagar. Besides, the funds being sought from Nabard, the State Government proposes to support the RIAD programme through funds granted to different sectors, the release said.

Ever since the RIDF programme was started by the Government of India in 1995-96 primarily to cover the shortfall in lending to far sector by commercial banks, Andhra Pradesh has been in the forefront in utilising the funds under the scheme. In the past decade, hundreds projects with a total outlay of over Rs 8,500 crore were sanctioned. Of this, the loan component from Nabard amounted to Rs 6,800 crore.

The State Government has now come out with the specially designed RIAD programme as part of its overall efforts to give a boost to the rural economy and improve the living standards of people in villages and would be proposing to Nabard for funding under the RIDF, the release said.

According to the release, the State Government also proposes to involve credible non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in the implementation of RIAD to ensure continuity in the activity. The Government would assist the NGOs in building their capacity and recruitment of professionals and subject experts so as to ensure integrated services delivery, the release added.

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