(a) whether the Government proposes to concentrate more on re-orientation of rural development programmes by giving a thrust to priority areas viz drinking water, sanitation etc. through focused attention on specialized needs of the States; and
(b) if so, the steps taken by the Government in this direction?
MINISTER FOR DRINKING WATER AND SANITATION (SHRI JAIRAM RAMESH)
(a) & (b): Yes, Sir. The Government has given higher priority to rural water supply and sanitation during 2012-13 by allocating a sum of Rs. 14,000 crore as against Rs. 10,000 crore made available for rural water supply and sanitation in the current year 2011-12. Specialized needs of States in terms of the areas under Desert Development Programme, Drought Prone Areas Programme, Hill Area Development Programme and special category Hill States are taken care of by giving them weightage in allocation of funds under National Rural Drinking Water Programme.