Everybody seems to be keen to learn from India's rural development fable. The Brits are now in line, seeking India's help with implementation of various schemes for the rural sector.

A delegation from UK met rural development minister C P Joshi on Tuesday and evinced keen interest in the sundry scehmes run by the RD ministry. The delegation sought co-operation in furthering Indo-British ties in the sector. Led by All Party Indo-British Parliamentary Group chairman and Labour member of the British Parliament for Ealing Southall Virendra Sharma, it sought the co-operation of the ministry in furthering Indo-British ties in poverty alleviation, education, skill development and empowerment of rural masses, a statement of the ministry said.

“The delegation evinced keen interest in working together in areas like rural housing, design of solar power plants, education of girl child, building schools and livelihood works," the statement added. It also included former British MP John Barett, and had representatives from NGO India 800 Foundation. Ministry officials briefed the visiting delegates about the success of National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme, and the role of technology to introduce transparency and accountability in the implementation of NREGA.