Chandigarh, April 20
The Punjab government has possibly found the proverbial “treasure trove” to fund some critical development works in the rural areas. The state, after finding out several new schemes — funds for which have so far remained untapped for one reason or the other — is now working overtime to get this money which can virtually transform the beneficiary villages.

Right from providing new-age technologies like broadband connectivity in villages to the cleaning of village ponds and providing rural employment --- all are covered under various central schemes. The central government only requires a systematic use of money and for the purpose it is meant. Punjab officials have virtually “brushed up” their knowledge of various schemes in the past few days and now want to implement the same to catch up with several leading states.

The government of India provides money to connect all gram panchayats with broadband Internet connectivity. Some of the southern states have already availed themselves of funds under the scheme and launched their much-talked-about e-governance programmes. Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal was informed about this scheme at a recent meeting with a senior functionary in the union ministry of panchayats. He immediately wanted that Punjab should be included in this scheme, which also entails the provision of computers and related infrastructure. This could help schools at the village level and provide computer education.

Further, the government of India provides funds for a scheme for organising training through geo-stationary satellites. A studio is set up in the state capital and the receiving station at the district headquarters. The state will submit its demand to the centre in the next few days on both schemes.

In what could open new vistas in villages, Punjab officials learnt a few days ago that Rs 20 lakh is provided to a panchayat to construct a hall that can be used as a training centre and also a place to have social gatherings of villages. Punjab has decided to choose 10 villages in each of the 140 blocks. That means about 1,400 villages will benefit, said a senior functionary. An exercise is on to find which villages have no such infrastructure.

The government of India has given an assurance that cleaning and maintaining village ponds can be given priority under two central government schemes. The Punjab government has now ordered a survey to determine which villages should be put on the immediate priority list.

The national rural employment guarantee scheme is being extended to more districts. At present, Hoshiarpur is covered. Punjab wants certain backward and under- developed districts to be covered under the scheme. Also, the state wants that all small canals ( khaals),which were bricklined more than 25 years ago, should be redone with central assistance. It may be a bit difficult to make the government of India agree to this.