AGARTALA, July 7(TIWN): With the aim to develop the rural areas and to improve the facility of basic amenities of life a review meeting on Rural Development (RD) and Panchayat related issues was held on Tuesday at Pragna Bhawan.

Addressing the meet, Minister Manik Dey said that rural development actions mainly aim for the social and economic development of the rural areas. Rural development programs are usually top-down from the local or regional authorities, regional development agencies, NGOs, national governments or international development organizations.

The meeting also held discussions on reorganizations of TTAADC villages related issues.

Speaking at the day-long meeting, the minister for R.D. Department Naresh Chandra Jamatia further said that a healthy and dynamic agricultural sector is an important foundation of rural development, generating strong linkages to other economic sectors.

Rural livelihoods are enhanced through effective participation of rural people and rural communities in the management of their own social, economic and environmental objectives by empowering people in rural areas, particularly women and youth, including through organizations such as local cooperatives and by applying the bottom-up approach, added Jamatia.

Close economic integration of rural areas with neighboring urban areas and the creation of rural off-farm employment can narrow rural-urban disparities, expand opportunities and encourage the retention of skilled people, including youth, in rural areas. The vulnerabilities of the rural poor to the economic and financial crisis and to climate change and water shortage must be addressed, said other dignitaries.

Referring the all-round development in rural areas, the dignitaries stressed on the point that almost all the Gram Panchayat and Village Committees are to be connected by black top roads while the habitations are to be connected by good measure of transportation. Initiatives to be adopted for the development of electricity connection to the rural areas including measures should also be adopted for providing pure drinking water facility.

However, Minister for Panchayat department Manik Dey, Minister for R.D. Department Naresh chandra Jamatia, CEM TTAADC Radha Charana Debbarma, S.K Rakesh Principal Secretary Panchayat Department, Dr.GSG Ayyangar Principal Secretary R.D Department, Y.P Singh Chief Secretary along with other dignitaries remain present in the program.