Giriraj Singh

TMC delegation holds talks with officials over MGNREGA fund dues

A delegation of Trinamool Congress MPs Wednesday held talks with Rural Development Ministry officials after being unable to meet Union Minister Giriraj Singh and raise the issue of pending MGNREGA funds for workers in West Bengal. The delegation, led by Lok Sabha MP Sudip Bandyopadhyay, included Lower House member and TMC National General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee, Mohua Moitra and Dola Sen among others. "We will not let 17 lakh families of Bengal be deprived by the BJP. We will continue to raise our voices until MGNREGS funds are released. Without an assurance, we will not leave. We're not here for tea and snacks," Banerjee told reporters. Banerjee said that party leaders had spoken to the minister and were asked to meet him on Wednesday. "I was told that he went to Parliament today. We came here once it was adjourned. We will wait for 10-12 days and if they do not release the funds we will take to the streets," Banerjee said, adding that neither the minister nor the junior ...

India has potential to be world's skill capital: Rural Development Minister

India has potential to be the world's "skill capital", Rural Development Minister Giriraj Singh said on Tuesday as his ministry signed an MoU with 19 "Captive Employers" for providing jobs to 31,067 rural youths under a government scheme. According to the Memorandum of Understanding, the government will give these employers the target to train and provide gainful employment to rural youths, with a minimum salary of 10,000 per month for the minimum period of six months. "Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said education should be focused on skill development, and skill development should be focused on providing employment... That is what we are trying to do," Singh said at an event to sign the MoU. "India has the potential to be the skill capital of the world. In this direction today for the first time an MoU is being signed between government and employers," Singh said. He also sought suggestions from the employers on implementing the Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana ...

UM Giriraj Singh reviews progress of Model Gram Panchayat project

Union Rural Development Minister Giriraj Singh on Friday reviewed the progress of the project that aims to create 250 model gram panchayat clusters across India. Speaking on the occasion, Singh emphasised on a holistic development of the gram panchayats covered under 'Project for Creating 250 Model Gram Panchayat Clusters across India.' He stressed that Young Fellows working in remote areas should set an example with community participation to ensure that more children than ever receive quality education and students do not drop out of school, according to an official statement. Young Fellows may play a significant role in different thematic areas under Localization of Sustainable Development Goals (LSDGs) in Gram Panchayats, he said. The Union Minister of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj also mentioned the importance of Gram Panchayat Development Plans (GPDPs). In another statement, the Rural Development ministry said it has been recognised for its software programme at the W

LS speaker must take action against Rahul for London remarks: Giriraj Singh

Union minister Giriraj Singh on Monday sought action against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi from Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla for his recent comments in London that microphones in the Indian Parliament are often silenced against the opposition. Singh alleged that Gandhi spoke like the "tukde-tukde gang" during his visit to the UK. "He has spoken so much in Parliament, but in London he said he is not allowed to speak, the mic is switched off. I think this is an attack on democracy and insult to Lok Sabha and the country," Singh told reporters outside Parliament House. Last week, Gandhi told British parliamentarians that functioning microphones in the Lok Sabha are often silenced against the Opposition. "Our mikes are not out of order, they are functioning, but you still can't switch them on. That's happened to me a number of times while I am speaking, the Congress leader said. Singh called Gandhi's remarks "utter lies". "The Lok Sabha speaker should take action against it. These state

Centre wants to make women members of SHGs lakhpati: Giriraj Singh

Union Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Minister Giriraj Singh on Wednesday said the government has resolved to make members of women Self-Help Groups (SHGs) lakhpatis. He was speaking after inaugurating a one-day workshop of women and an exhibition at Shahapur in Thane district. More than 25,000 women attended the function. "There are 86,000 SHGs in India which include 9 crore women. In the last eight years, the government has disbursed Rs 6.26 lakh crore to these women. It is the dream of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to make each and every member of SHGs a lakhpati. We are working in that direction. 'Lakhpati Didi' programme is being implemented in the country," he said. Singh said the income of women members of SHGs in Thane district will go up and the GDP of the district will improve.

MGNREGA: Why govt's app-based attendance system is facing protest

Rural Development Minister Giriraj Singh termed the recent measures steps to check corruption in the scheme and said the government would not compromise on transparency

Rural development ministry in active mode to enroll more women in SHGs

Rural development minister Giriraj Singh on Thursday said the target to have 10 crore Self Help Group members by 2024 will be achieved as the ministry is working on "pro-active mode" to enrol more women 'Sakhis'. The minister was addressing the media after the signing of an agreement between the ministry and Meesho an e-commerce platform owned by Bengaluru-based Fashnear Technologies Private Limited As per the agreement, the e-commerce platform will help in marketing of products made by the Self Help Groups under the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana - National Rural Livelihood Mission. Singh said, in May 2014, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi took charge, there were 2.35 crore SHG members, but with a focused approach to empower rural poor women in the last 9 years, the number of SHG members has swelled to more than 9 crore and will touch 10 crore by 2024. The agreement was signed in the presence of Singh as well as secretary, Rural Development, Shailesh Kumar Singh, Additional Secretar

'We should love cows', rural development minister backs 'Cow Hug Day'

Union Rural Development Minister Giriraj Singh on Thursday backed the advisory issued by the Animal Welfare Board of India to celebrate 'Cow Hug Day' on February 14 and said everyone should love cows. "It is a good initiative," Singh replied when asked about the advisory. "We should love cows. I am happy that this mission has been started... You should also love cows," he added. The Animal Welfare Board of India has issued a notice appealing to people to celebrate "Cow Hug Day" on February 14 to spread "positive energy" and encourage "collective happiness". The notice said hugging cows will bring "emotional richness" and increase "individual and collective happiness". It also mentioned that Vedic traditions are almost on the "verge of extinction" due to the "progress of West culture" and that the "dazzle of western civilisation has made our physical culture and heritage almost forgotten".

MNREGA demand-driven, sufficient funds being provided, says Giriraj Singh

Those criticising the budgetary allocation for MNREGA should understand that the scheme is "demand driven", Union Rural Development Minister Giriraj Singh said on Thursday, adding that the Narendra Modi government has always allocated sufficient funds for the programme. Amid criticism over the budgetary allocation for the flagship rural employment programme -- Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme -- Singh said the Modi government's allocation are higher than that by the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government. "Those criticising the allocation should understand what MNREGA is before saying that the allocation has gone down. In 2020, we had only Rs 62,000 crore allocation and the expenditure was Rs 1,12,000 crore. Every year, MNREGA budget (allocation) is around Rs 70,000 crore," Singh told reporters on the sidelines of an event in the national capital. "Those who are shouting about MNREGA today, in eight years, the UPA's BE (Budget Estimate) was more than R

Telangana govt misappropriates panchayat funds: BJP's Bandi Sanjay Kumar

Telangana BJP Chief Bandi Sanjay Kumar wrote to the Union Minister of Panchayati Raj Giriraj Singh alleging the Telangana government on the grounds of drawing money from the accounts of the Sarpanches without their knowledge and using the money for other purposes.Sanjay requested the Union Minister to initiate steps against the government. He said, "I request you to initiate necessary action to protect the rights of the local bodies as per the 73 & 74 Amendments of the Constitution of India in Telangana."Sanjay further alleged in the letter, "Government of Telangana is in the habit of diverting the funds allocated by Union Government for gram panchayats as well as other local bodies. In the recent past, I have also noticed that the MGNREGA funds are being diverted and utilised for other schemes of the state government."BJP Chief of Telangana said, that he received representations from sarpanches from all parts of Telangana to take necessary steps for re-depositing the funds into

Nitish should resign if his govt fails to implement policies: Giriraj

'If your police is not able to implement your law and policies then you should resign'

Giriraj Singh attacks AIDUF chief, proposes law for population control

Union Minister Giriraj Singh lashed out at the All India United Democratic Front (AIDUF) chief Badruddin Ajmal over his remarks asking Hindus to get their daughters married at the age of 18-20 years

Need strict laws to bring population under control, says Giriraj Singh

Union Minister Giriraj Singh on Sunday said a law should be brought to control population in the country, adding China achieved economic progress by controlling its population

Nitish not CM material, how could he become PM material: Giriraj Singh

"Nitish Kumar is one leader of the country who became Chief Minister 8 times but he failed to form the government with his own party, Singh, who was in Gopalganj for a public event, said.

Giriraj Singh, Tejashwi Yadav in Twitter spat over job promise

A war of words broke out between Union Minister Giriraj Singh and Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav on Friday over the RJD leader's poll promise of 10 lakh jobs made earlier.

Giriraj Singh raises concern over irregularities in PMAYG in Odisha

Union Panchayati Raj and Rural Development Minister Giriraj Singh raised concerns over several irregularities flagged by Central team that visited Odisha to verify and review status of PMAYG scheme.

By constantly opposing PM Modi, Oppn attacking India: Giriraj Singh

Union Minister Giriraj Singh launched a scathing attack on the Congress and other opposition parties for opposing PM Modi and said these parties are also attacking India

Quality of rural roads should be equal to national highways: Giriraj Singh

"At the same time we also should ensure that quality of rural roads is at par with that of national highways. These roads are lifeline of our villages," Singh, also the Union Minister, said.

Seven panchayat members handed over awards in Jammu and Kashmir

Union Minister for Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, Giriraj Singh and Jammu and Kashmir Lt Governor Manoj Sinha presented the awards

Giriraj Singh hits out at Cong for 'duping' poor, says BJP built more homes

Union Minister of Rural Development, Giriraj Singh on Friday said that PM Narendra Modi had built 3 crore houses only in eight years.