The tug of war between the Centre and the Mayawati government in Uttar Pradesh over the politics of drought in Bundelkhand region got intensified with the Union Ministry of Rural Development too joining forces on the relief being provided to the distressed population.
Union Rural Development Minister C.P. Joshi has shot a letter to the Uttar Pradesh government picking holes in the implementation of the various schemes under his Ministry right from the implementation of National Rural Employment Guarantee Act(NREGA) and potable drinking water schemes with the stress that the proper implementation of these two schemes would go a long way in mitigating the misery of the rural masses.
To visit the region
Even though he declined to divulge the contents of his letter, Mr. Joshi made it a point to specify that his note was not a routine one. Mr. Joshi also intends to visit the region to understand the problems being faced by the landless poor particularly against the backdrop of existence of big landed gentry that denied scope of works being taken up under NREGA.
Mr. Joshi, however, expressed his helplessness in intervening the matter under the federal structure with the State being vested with the responsibility of executing the schemes. The BSP government had not petitioned him for any assistance to cope with the harsh conditions prevailing there. The BSP government has, however, implored the Union Home Ministry with its list of demands to cope with the severe drought gripping the region for the past few years.
The issue shot into focus with the Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi suggesting establishment of a committee for Bundelkhand and Ms. Mayawati taking umbrage at the idea that it impinged on the federal rights of the State.
Given the gravity of the matter, the problem is being addressed at the highest level of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Mr. Joshi admitted that the department has been providing all the inputs being sought of it.
