Moving to improve public transportation in rural India, the Centre has decided to involve women self-help groups (SHGs) in the Pradhan Mantri Gramin Parivahan Yojana which is expected to be launched on August 15 this year. Amarjeet Sinha, Secretary, Ministry of Rural Development, said the scheme will first be implemented across 250 blocks, including areas affected by Left-wing extremism. The SHGs will be provided interest-free loans and training to operate mini-buses, each with a capacity for 10-12 passengers. Sinha said the aim is to eventually expand the scheme to ensure that the entire length of 5 lakh kilometres of rural roads are serviced by public transport of some sort.
Read more of this in a report by Shalini Nair in The Indian Express....
