The Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, today launched the National Food for Work (NFFW) programme in Aloor village in Rangareddy district in Andhra Pradesh. Speaking on the occasion, the Prime Minister said that the dream of Mahatma Gandhi for "Sampoorna Gram Swaraj" would come true by providing all amenities for the children, women and the people in general in villages through a strengthened Panchayat Raj system. He said that the villages would become self-sufficient when the National Food for Work Programme (NFFW) is implemented. The Centre has been implementing several programmes to ameliorate the plight of different sections of the society living in villages. In order to save the children from being exploited and to provide them education, the Centre is implementing "Sarva Siksha Abhiyan". The scheme supported by mid-day meal programme would ensure primary education to all children in the villages. Programmes for protecting the health of the people, particularly the women, were being implemented in rural areas, he added.

Dr. Singh said that the Centre was determined to strengthen the Panchayat Raj system in the country thereby improving the living conditions in the villages. NFFW programme will ensure minimum needs like food, cloth and shelter to all villagers. Once all facilities were available in villages, people need not migrate to the urban areas for better facilities. He said that the task on hand was not an easy one, but it could be confidently achieved through a powerful Panchayat Raj system. He also assured all help to the Government of Andhra Pradesh in its endeavour to harness river water resources.

Earlier the Prime Minister unveiled a plaque to mark the launching of NFFW programme and went round a photo exhibition depicting the progress registered by the State in various fields. The Prime Minister also interacted with handicapped children.

Dr. Raghuvansh Prasad Singh, Union Rural Development Minister, in his address, said that the Centre was implementing various developmental programmes like Indira Awas Yojana, Sampoorna Grameen Rozgar Yojana, etc. to ensure better living conditions for the rural poor.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister, Dr. Y.S.Rajasekhar Reddy, said that the State government wanted to harness Godavari water for irrigation as well as drinking water purposes. The State has launched several irrigation projects which involved an expenditure of about Rs.46,000/- crore. The Chief Minister said that a number of programmes were being implemented to achieve all-round development of the State.

The Governor of Andhra Pradesh, Shri Sushil Kumar Shinde; Union Minister for Information & Broadcasting and Culture, Shri S. Jaipal Reddy; Deputy Chairman, Planning Commission, Shri Montek Singh Ahluwalia; Union Minister of State for Rural Development, Shri A.Narendra; and several State Ministers were also present on the occasion.

NFFW programme will provide additional supplementary wage employment in the identified 150 most backward districts of the country. It is a 100 per cent Centrally sponsored scheme. The State Governments have to bear only the transportation cost, handling charges and taxes on food grains. NFFW programme will be open to all rural poor who are in need of wage employment. A district level perspective plan of the works to be undertaken for five years will be prepared and implemented. For the year 2004-05, an amount of Rs.2020 crore in cash and 20 lakh tonnes of food grains will be provided for the programme in addition to "Sampoorna Grameen Rozgar Yojana" allocations. Under the scheme 5 kg of food grains will be provided at below poverty line rates for each man-day to the beneficiaries.