Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh adopts three villages under Jamunia panchayat

MOTIHARI: Union Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh today adopted three villages in Jamunia panchayat of East Champaran district and promised to transform them by paying special attention to improving cleanliness and hygiene.

"I have adopted Jamunia panchayat comprising three villages - Kherimal, Kherijagir and Jamunia - having more than 10,000 population," Singh, a fourth term BJP MP from Motihari in Bihar, said.

The Union Minister adopted the villages under Adarsh Sansad Gram Yojana started by the Centre across the country.

"There is 68 per cent schedule caste population in the villages, but we will not follow caste-based development. We will take care of all poor irrespective of caste," Singh said.

To make a model village, Singh said he would focus on taking personal responsibilities, ensuring cleanliness and hygiene and improve livelihood.

Efforts would be made to use the funds allocated under different schemes for development of the villages, he said.

To help farmers improve farm output, the minister said the government would soon issue soil health cards and promote organic farming.

The government was also trying to give fertiliser subsidy directly to farmers instead to companies, he said adding many schemes were being worked out to improve farmers' income.

"There are only 365 toilets in Kherimal. As many as 1,709 households still do not have toilet facilities," said Manoj Kumar, district coordinator under Bharat Swachch Mission for East Champaran district.

The village does not have any overhead water tank, only hand pumps, he said, adding people in the village were mostly involved in agriculture and allied activities.