New Delhi, Sep 11 : The Union Cabinet today approved a Rs. 500 crore special scheme which will be launched by the government during the 11th Plan in the Naxal-affected states.

The Centrally sponsored scheme was approved today at a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, an official spokesperson said.

For the current financial year, Rs. 100 crore has been earmarked for the scheme.

Washington  - Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is to visit US President George W Bush September 25, the White House said Thursday.

The announcement came as the Bush administration prepared to submit the nuclear cooperation deal with India for congressional approval.

In a statement announcing Singh's visit, Bush said he was "pleased" to give formal approval to the US-India Agreement for Peaceful Nuclear Cooperation and "looked forward" to working with Congress to ensure passage.

The PM has issued instructions to the Planning Commission and other government departments to set up a system for independent evaluation of its flagship programs. The government is presently investing large sums to enhance education, health and rural employment, and this step will mark a further progress in this process. The PM recently had a meeting with the commission, the finance ministry and the department of statistics, instructing their mutual cooperation concerning these social sectors.

Islamabad,

New Delhi, Sept 9: Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh on Tuesday asked the country’s statisticians to develop a system for independent evaluation of flagship programmes in education, health and rural employment sectors.

Dr. Singh was addressing a conference of representatives of State and Union Territories on Management of Statistics here today.