CIVIL SOCIETY IS IMPORTANT IN IMPROVING GOVERNANCE: GEHLOT

Jaipur: Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot said on Monday that civil society and voluntary organizations have an important role to play for the underprivileged sections of the society and understand their ground needs. “These organizations play an important role in making the schemes made for public welfare by the government, effective and useful. Civil society also helps the government to introspect and review and improve the plans, policies and programs of the government. Important steps like RTI, RTE, MNREGA, food security have been taken in the country only after the suggestions of civil society.

Civil society has its own importance in a democracy, people who deny it definitely do not believe in democracy,” Gehlot said while addressing a ‘Workshop organized to take the benefits of the budget to the common man’ at Birla Auditorium in Jaipur on Monday. The CM announced the establishment of Mahatma Gandhi Directorate of Peace and Non-Violence as a department. He said that the principles, ideals and philosophy of Mahatma Gandhi are needed more than ever before. “This department will be established with the aim of taking Gandhiji’s philosophy of life to the people,” he said.

Appealing to PM Narendra Modi, he said that in view of the prevailing atmosphere of tension in the country, there is a need to give a message of harmony and brotherhood. Gehlot said that MNREGA scheme is an ambitious scheme and now the Indira Gandhi Urban Employment Guarantee Scheme has been started by the state govt on the lines of this scheme. Social worker Aruna Roy said that in a democracy, it is important for those running the government to communicate with the people. Kumar Prashant, President, Gandhi Peace Foundation said that this workshop is a ‘watershed moment’ for Rajasthan. Chief Secretary Usha Sharma said that the schemes of the state are being discussed all over the country. On Monday, the Finance dept held a workshop ‘Janata Ka Budget, Jan-Jan Tak’ at Birla Auditorium to discuss budget announcements.