Just the cost of a single Rafale fighter — MoD is finalizing the acquisition of 126 of these French jets in the almost $20 billion MMRCA project — could make 1,000 village panchayats “free from open-defecation”, said Union rural development minister Jairam Ramesh.
MoD got Rs 1.93 lakh crore allocation this fiscal, while the rural development budget was only Rs 99,000 crore, he added, taking recourse to the long-running “guns versus bread” debate.
Defence minister A K Antony, triggering guffaws from the audience, retorted that DRDO would certainly provide his ministry with the bio-toilet technology, but it was up to Ramesh to ensure the requisite funding as well as collaboration from state governments, other local bodies and NGOs for installation of the eco-friendly toilets. “Money provided in the budget for defence is for national security,” he said.
Ramesh quickly clarified that while it was necessary to spend on the country’s defence, he only wanted the myriad technologies developed by DRDO to also benefit the society at large. The aim is to make 1,000 panchayats open-defecation free by installing the bio-toilets, originally developed by DRDO for soldiers deployed in high-altitude areas, over the next few years.
“Broadly, in Phase-I, one lakh bio-digestor toilets will be installed in 300 gram panchayats over the next two years at a cost of Rs 150 crore. Phase-II and Phase-III will then follow,” said Ramesh.
Similarly, all existing 50,000 coaches of the Indian Railways — which is the “largest open toilet in the world” with 11 million passengers daily – are likely to be retrofitted with the bio-toilets at a cost of around Rs 500 crore in five years.
Minister of state for statistics and programme implementation Srikant Kumar Jena suggested he would bring about amendments in the MPLADS guidelines so that funds can be released to MPs to provide the bio-toilets in their constituencies.
-via The Times of India.
i’m completely not satisfied with the food that airmen in airforce are fed.most of friends those are airmen say bloody station commanders administrative officers, catering officers,catering assistants are real culprits of this scam which has been in defence for over 2 decades.the fund that is spent for feeding air warriors is just one fourth of the money sanctioned by defence minstry.moreover no airwarrior ever dares to complain against the third class food because if you are going to do so then who will support an airwarrior?this is a truth which mightn’t have been revealed by anyone before.
hi
it is very good we have to make the basic amenities to all ,and simultaneously we have to protect our nation , otherwise we may fave the faith of USSR.
And money , what about the black money in the other countries , it may cross 4laks cross rupees. what about the scams money etc .why cant you get that Indian money for the noble jobs .
why cant you make good defense products and reduce the cost of defense procurement and increase your exporting capacity .
Due to like this idea of JayaRam Ramesh ,he is not looked after by the Congress while cabinet expansions on 31.072012.
The money which goes to defense can be divided in three parts. first is money for pay and salary etc the second is for buying weapons and ammunition etc. third is required to maintain the formations. IT is the third fund which can be stopped for at least three years because for example if today every office has got curtains today that curtain can be used for next 2-3 years if next year again they get money for curtain then new curtain will go to house of bosses similar example can taken for every item. Maximum items purchased in the name of training is used in residences or officer messes. or manipulated in name hence it is very good if the complete moeny can be diverted towards welfare of country instead of giving it for curruption.