Doling out a special package to Bundelkhand will not help achieve development goals of this drought-hit region, unless there is a committed approach at the ground level to erase its backwardness, feel social scientists and bureaucrats.

Bundelkhand, which is politically crucial for both the Congress and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), came into limelight after the centre recently allocated a package of Rs.7,266 crore for development of the region in Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh. Out of that amount, Rs.3,760 crore would be spent in six districts of MP.

"The goal of development will not be achieved unless delivery at the ground level is ensured through the committed persons. It is not that the region had not received funds earlier. The need of the hour is to have a committed team which thinks for it and is willing to spend the entire money on the area," professor of sociology in the Dr. Hari Singh Gour Central University, Sagar, Shrinath Sharma told PTI.

Sanjay Dube, a senior IAS officer from Jhansi, is also of the view that mere money will not ensure development.

"Had it been the case, then countries like Afghanistan receiving huge funds through the United Nations or states like Jammu and Kashmir or naxal-affected areas would have become prosperous by now," he pointed out.