Need to root out corruption from welfare schemes: Jairam Ramesh

Guwahati, Feb 13 (ANI): Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh has said that corruption has to be weeded out of Central Government welfare schemes.

Speaking in the context of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MNREGA) here on Sunday, Ramesh said complaints of misappropriation of funds had been received against office bearers of village councils.

"I have received complaints that village council members are buying SUVs. We should be alert to the possibility of corruption. The strictest action must be taken against those who embezzle funds," Ramesh added.

He further said that India's northeast had the potential for empowering rural women through self-help groups (SHGs).

Ramesh said that products made by SHGs would reap greater benefits for their makers if they were marketed the right way.

"If you provide marketing assistance to SHG products, such as dairy, horticulture, weaving, hosiery etc., then I believe there will be a greater generation of income. There is great potential here for women's self -help groups," he added. (ANI)