Ensuring proper security to volunteers involved in social audit and implementation of National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) would be one of the priorities of the new minister for rural development C P Joshi, who assumed office here today.
Speaking to reporters soon after taking over as the minister at his office in Krishi Bhavan, Joshi said, "all volunteers involved in social audit under NREGA should be given protection."
The minister was replying to a question if he would take any steps to ensure protection of NREGA volunteers after two of them were killed in Jharkand last year.
Asked why he chose this particular portfolio, Joshi said "it is the prerogative of the Prime Minister. However, I have been a minister in the state cabinet (in Rajasthan) and a four time MLA. I have interest in the social sector. I will try to put forward my best effort as a minister in this sector."
The new minister however said that rural development is a vast subject and he needs to understand the core issues before tackling them.
"Let me understand the issues first from my colleagues and then I will be in a better position to tackle them," Joshi said.