New Delhi: With illiteracy being a major stumbling block in implementation of its schemes in rural areas, the Centre is considering to appoint an educated person from SC, ST or minority communities in each panchayat as `Lok Karmi` to help villagers.
In a draft proposal, the Ministry of Rural Development has also sought to engage NGOs in the ambitious programme by designating them as `Lok Sewaks`, who would in turn appoint and guide Lok Karmis in their territorial jurisdiction, which would not be more than four blocks in a district.
Seeking to secure maximum participation of rural women in the programme, the Ministry has proposed that Lok Karmis should preferably be women and men be appointed if a suitable women in not available in the area.
"Every Lok Sevak must ensure that not less than 50 per cent of the selected candidates are women," the draft Lok Sewak and Lok Karmi scheme of the ministry proposes.
The proposal seeks to support those people in rural areas who are "largely non-literate, poor and at the bottom of the social hierarchy," an official said.
Citing the example of NREGA workers, he said many of them are unable to record their rights or to articulate their demands in a written form as they are not literate.
PTI
