Union Minister Kiren Rijiju said for development of villages, Panchayat Raj Institutions need to be strengthened. (File photo)
Development of India is possible only when all villages of the country develop at par, Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju said today.
"For development of villages, Panchayat Raj Institutions need to be strengthened," Ms Rijiju said at a function in Itanagar on occasion of National Panchayati Raj Day.
"Unless the Panchayati Raj Institutions are strengthened, there is no meaning in planning schemes and policies at the Centre as majority of the schemes percolated down to the grass roots," he said.
Referring to Mahatma Gandhi and BR Ambedkar, Mr Rijiju said Gandhi represented the picture of rural India, while Dr Ambedkar worked tirelessly for the empowerment of the backward classes.
"India will not develop sans development of the North East," the lawmaker from Arunachal Pradesh said.
Lauding the state government for attaching priority to health and education sectors, he assured it to fill up the gap in funding for the state from the Centre.
"Public sector undertakings under the ministry of petroleum have helped us in providing equipment for various health institutions under Corporate Social Responsibility. In the next three months all the required equipment, including ambulances, will be provided to the state," he said.
Mr Rijiju also flagged off two ambulances in the function provided by Indian Oil Corporation for Tarasso and Balijan Circle under Papum Pare district of the state.
"I have asked various PSUs to construct toilets in schools of the state and so far over 500 toilets have been constructed besides several hostels," he said.