Gopinath Munde had instantly struck rapport with officials, media

NEW DELHI: "I am a man from a village. I began my political career from a panchayat. I was born in a small village with a population of 400 people. I am very happy as I have been assigned by Narendra Modi to work for the welfare of villages."

This was the opening statement of Gopinath Munde to media when he assumed charge as the Minister for Panchayati Raj, Rural Development and Drinking Water and Sanitation in Modi Cabinet a week ago on May 27.

Through the words, Munde instantly struck a rapport with the officials of the Ministry as also journalists covering it and his praise for the work in the UPA II in the field had brought his predecessor Jairam Ramesh to the Krishi Bhavan to congratulate him personally.

"I am both shocked and saddened by the sudden demise of Gopinath Mundeji with whom I shared a warm personal relationship although we belonged to different political parties," Ramesh said.

The warm gestures aside, even the officials in the Rural Development Ministry fondly remembered him, saying the BJP leader had a vision about development of villages.

The Rural Development Minister had got cracking after assuming charge as he held two detailed review meetings on implementation of two Ministry programmes -- MNREGA and PMGSY.

He had even suggested a roadmap to improve lives of millions of poor living in rural India, officials said.

A senior IAS officer in the Ministry said the Maharashtra leader could send a feel of comfort to the top bureaucrats as he had shown "maturity" of a senior politician.

"He was not in a hurry. On the very day he assumed charge, he could send us a feel of comfort. He listened to us. And later, he spelt out his plans for the development of least developed villages in the country," an officer said.

Munde had suggested "a village planning" by converging welfare schemes in the three Ministries -- Rural Development, Panchayati Raj and Drinking Water and Sanitation -- and this should be implemented in the least developed villages.

Giving drinking water, proper sanitation to women and electricity in rural areas were his top priorities.