Shillong, Feb 1 (IANS) Ram Kripal Yadav, union minister of state for drinking water and sanitation, Sunday visited a village in Meghalaya, interacted with villagers and looked at the condition of toilets and kitchens in a few houses.
Yadav visited the tin-covered house of Saralin Wankhar in Mawphlang Nongrum village in East Khasi Hills, 25 km from state capital Shilling.
He interacted with her and her school-going son.
Yadav was offered kwai (betel nut, betel leaf and lime) which he took. He inspected the kitchen and the toilet at Wankhar's home.
Yadav told IANS he visited the village following Prime Minister Narendra Modi's direction that ministers should gain first-hand information about the problems confronting people.
"Your beautiful state need to progress ahead in development and Prime Minister Modi too is serious in ensuring rapid development," he said.
Wankhar said she "did not expect a union minister to step into my house, and spend time with us. No minister in the past made such a visit".
"I told him about our difficulties in the village and he promised that he will make efforts to bring development to our village."
Suktimai Lyngdoh Mawphlang, who waited outside Wankhar's house to interact with Yadav, said: "Not even our legislator makes such visits after winning the assembly election. They come and visit us only during election time to seek votes."
Yadav interacted with other villagers at the community hall where they complained about the non-availability of doctors.
He said he would place the people's grievances before Modi, and this would not be his last visit to the village.
"I will visit your village again, and we will have food together," he said.
Accompanied by government officials, Yadav visited the Mawphlang dam, the main source of water for Shillong and adjoining areas.
He tasted the water pumped from the dam, and remarked that the water was "sweet".
Yadav said the central government has enhanced the financial package, under the Total Sanitation Scheme, for the construction of a toilet and to provide safe drinking water from Rs.3,000 to Rs.12,000.
BJP got RSS's support on UCC, Indresh Kumar said- implementation is the need of the hour
Muslim Rashtriya Manch (MRM) guide Indresh Kumar said that implementation of the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) is the need of the hour. Different laws for different communities lead to discrimination and
PM's 3 rallies costing 14 crores in Himachal: Roadways asked for payment from the government; preceded the code of conduct
Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC) has an outstanding payment of Rs 14 crore for buses sent to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's rallies. For this, bills have now been sent by the HRTC management
Monsoon In India: Monsoon has arrived in Maharashtra, when will it enter Delhi-Mumbai; IMD gave the latest information
People are troubled by heat and heat waves in many parts of the country. However, for the last few days, the people of Delhi-NCR have got some relief from the scorching heat. Meanwhile, the Indian
BSF Constable Returns: Pakistan bows down to India, hands over BSF Jawan Purnam Kumar
BSF jawan Purnam Kumar Shaw, posted in Ferozepur sector of Punjab, had inadvertently crossed the international border on 23 April and was later taken into custody by Pakistan Rangers.
Manjhi skips, BJP boycotts all-party meeting in Bihar
Patna, Feb 16 (IANS) Bihar Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi Monday failed to attend the all- party meeting called by Assembly Speaker Uday Narain Choudhary while the opposition BJP boycotted
UP Budget 2022: Ayodhya, Mathura, and Kashi will show the tableau of religious-cultural nationalism, special arrangements in the budget of the Yogi government
UP Budget 2022 Highlights: Ayodhya, Mathura, and Kashi... These are holy places of pilgrimage, but these are the high places from where the BJP government can leave an impact on the political
Allu Arjun Case: Will the police now go to heaven to arrest Sridevi? Why did Ram Gopal Varma say this?
Filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma has once again come out in support of Telugu star Allu Arjun. He recently criticized the arrest of Allu Arjun after the tragic stampede at the Hyderabad premiere of 'Pushpa
Swine flu toll Rises to Seven in Kashmir
Jammu, Feb 25 (IANS) With the death of one more H1N1 infected patient, the toll due to swine flu in Jammu and Kashmir has risen to seven, an official said Wednesday."A patient admitted after
Every match of IPL 2021 is now like a final for SRH, know why Rashid Khan said this
The UAE leg of IPL 2021 is starting from September 19. Half of the league phase is over and now all eyes are on qualifying for the playoffs. However, the team for which this task is going to be
Supreme court on Delhi Border Seal: Supreme Court on border seal, one pass for Delhi-UP-Haryana
New Delhi