In a move aimed at giving complete facelift to the villages in the State with the support of Universities, Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal on Wednesday sanctioned Rs 10 crore for Integrated Development of the rural areas in the State.

Interacting with the Chancellors/ Vice Chancellors of the Universities and Deputy Commissioners from across the State, while presiding over a review meeting of Integrated Village development program here at Punjab Bhawan here, the CM said that this fund should be judiciously utilised to ensure infra structural, social and economic development of over 200 villages under the scheme by the Universities.

He said that proposals regarding the key areas of investment would be given and executed by the Universities. Soliciting the whole hearted support of Universities in this noble cause, Badal said that this endeavor could act as a catalyst for social and economic development of the rural areas.

The Chief Minister said that under the Integrated Village development program, the State Government aims to make the Universities a partner in the Punjab’s rural growth.

He said that as per the program, Uiversities were nurturing five villages adopted by them with the fulsome support and cooperation of the State Government.

Badal said that the major thrust of the scheme was to improve services under core sectors of Health, education, agriculture and allied farming, water supply and sanitation, sports and skill development & employment.

The Chief Minister also asked the Deputy Commissioners (DCs) to coordinate with the Universities and undertake joint inspection of the villages adopted by them to prepare a master plan for giving boost to development of villages.

He directed the Deputy Commissioners to submit the detailed report regarding it within a fortnight so that work could be executed at the earliest. Badal also asked the Rural Development department to set up a separate cell for dealing exclusively with this program to streamline the work.

laying thrust on the economic development of people residing in rural areas, the Chief Minister exhorted the Universities to play a proactive role in imparting skill training to youth and women to make them gainfully self employed.

He also asked the Universities to make the people aware about various social welfare initiatives taken by the State Government so that they could reap their benefits. Badal also asked them to make the farmers aware about making agriculture more remunerative by reducing their input costs.

Satisfied by the preliminary report submitted by the Universities regarding the works being done by them in five villages adopted by them, the Chief Minister said that the beginning was very good and hoped that desired target would be achieved soon.