Chemicals and Fertilisers Minister Sadananda Gowda today said Setting up of Drug parks and Medical Devices Park in the country will make India Atmanirbhar in the Pharma sector. Speaking to reporters in New Delhi, Mr. Gowda said Setting up of drug parks and Medical Devices Park will reduce the country's import dependency significantly. He said the Selection of Drugs and Medical Devices Park will be based on cooperative federalism.

Saying he wants to see India a front runner in the Pharma sector, Mr Gowda expressed hope that drugs and medical devices park will attract significant investment and latest technology. Mr Gowda said It will make India a global pharmaceutical hub and give a boost to the country's economy.

 In order to encourage domestic production of critical APIs(Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients)/ KSM(Key Starting Material) and medical devices, Union Cabinet on March 12, 2020, has approved a scheme for development of three bulk drugs and four medical devices parks in which Government of India will give incentive to States with a maximum limit of 1000 Crore rupees per bulk drug park and 100 crore rupees per medical device parks.

Meanwhile, in view of the situation arising out of the COVID-19 pandemic, an additional allocation of 40 thousand crore rupees has also been made for the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme during this financial year. Union Minister for Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Narendra Singh Tomar has called upon the states to ensure that funds being routed to Gram Panchayats are effectively used for development works at the village level.

Mr. Tomar said this while inaugurating a function through video conference on Strengthening of the Risk-Based Internal Audit of Rural Development Programmes. He emphasized that the focus of the government is on ensuring a high level of transparency in the implementation of rural development programmes.

Mr. Tomar said, his Ministry has developed a multi-pronged strategy for expanding livelihood opportunities through wage and self-employment, providing rural housing, road infrastructure and providing a social safety net.

The Minister said a provision of about one lakh 20 thousand crore rupees has been made in the Budget Estimates for the financial year 2020-21.

On this occasion, Mr. Tomar released a Financial Management Index for Rural Development Programmes to rank the performance of the states. The states will be ranked on the basis of preparation of the annual plan, projecting the requirement of funds for the financial year, the expeditious release of state’s share, timely utilization of the funds and submission of the Utilization Certificates.