GoG gives Rs 27.50 cr to 2762 Pani Samitis, Rs 1 lakh to female Pani Samitis

Gandhinagar, 4 August, 2014

While addressing a statewide convention on Women ‘Pani Samiti’ Empowerment held at Mahatma Mandir in Gandhinagar, Gujarat Chief Minister Anandiben Patel today announced that the state government will provide 10 per cent amount from Swajaldhara Yojana’s fund for internal water supply system across the Adijati-Vanbandhu (tribal) rural areas.

On this occasion, she also gave away grant of Rs.27.50cr to 2762 Pani Samitis. Further, with an aim to encouraging active participation of women in rural water supply system, Smt. Patel distributed Rs.1 lakh grant under mukhyamantri mahila pani samiti protsahan yojana to each respective Pani Samiti which holds 100 per cent female members. She suggested all the Pani Samitis to play their commendable role for supplying pure drinking water across remote areas of villages.

She added that Gujarat’s Pani Samitis have been becoming ideal in the entire nation. About 74114 women are associated with Pani Samitis of various villages wherein 50 per cent of women members hold representativeness in as many as 2610 Pani Samitis. Smt. Patel also congratulated those female members who have effectively managed and performed able administration in the field of drinking water.

Concerning over the issue of delayed electricity to privately owned water bores, Smt. Patel, with her public-centered welfare approaches announced to facilitate them with electricity connection.

In the respect of the rural women who are engaged in effective management of water supply, Smt. Patel considered this occasion as Gujarat’s initiative for the women empowerment.

While reiterating state’s readiness for women empowerment, Smt. Patel gave details of providing iron tablets to the girls having iron deficiency and also distribution of bicycles to the secondary girl students who require travelling outside villages for studies.

Smt. Patel while giving outline about the whole women empowerment fortnight celebration inevitably called for spreading out the need of women helpline 181 and 1091 across the state.

The chief minister described a range of women welfare schemes so as to encouraging self-confidence of women. She enlightened various schemes and provisions to providing advanced facilities such as milking machines, bulk milk coolers etc. to the women animal caregivers and women dairy cooperatives.
Promoting her one point agenda, Smt. Patel today urged the women power of Gujarat to put their best efforts for contributing to build an in-house toilet facility in each house of every village of the state and to provide nutritive foods to the children of Anganwadi for creating a ‘Malnutrition Free’ society.

Speaking on the occasion, state water supply minister Mr. Babubhai Bokhiriya said, the works done by the water supply department of Gujarat is emerging as a role-model at the national level. Gujarat has attained the proud of having world’s one of the biggest water-supply-grids. The department has developed surface resources rather than depending on underground water resources. For supplying intotal 290-Cr liters of clean waters to the population of 3.95 crore people residing in 189 cities and 11,571 villages, the department has set up a water grid networks – consisting 2794 km long bulk lines and 120,769 km distribution lines — in the state.
He further stated that the state government was determined to expand the scope of the grid’s network further for supplying more water connection to strengthen the local water resources.

Chief Secretary to the Chief Minister, Dr Varesh Sinha said, the effective representation made by Smt. Patel to the Prime Minister on state’s pending important issues with the Centre have yielded very good fruitations. Of them, the foremost fruitation was clearance of the permission by the Centre to raise the height of the Narmada dam. For ‘Vibrant Gujarat’, the Chief Minister has prepared a 48 points agenda and set a time frame of 100-days to achieve them. However, the results of these have started to come in just 60-days, so far.

WASMO Chairman Dr. Rajivkumar Gupta also spoken on the occasion.

Others who attended the function also included, Gujarat’s Social Justice Minister Mr. Ramanlal Vora, Education Minister Mr. Bhupendrasinh Chudasma, minister of state for education Mr. Nanubhai Vanani, Panchayat Gram Vikas Minister Mr. Jayantibhai Kavadia, Road and Building Minister Mr. Jaidrathsinh Parmar, Whip Mr. R. C. Patel, deputy-whip Mr. Atmarambhai Parmar, MLAs, Union Panchayat Secretary Smt. Vijayalaxmi Joshi, secretaries of various departments and others.