The Union government on September 29 called for rural-led growth strategy for reducing poverty and achieving development with social justice and equity. Minister of State for Rural Development Pradeep Jain Aditya said that in these times of global economic stress, the rural development sector is expected to contribute significantly in achieving sustainable food security.    And also rural development sector is to work for poverty alleviation through increasing the food production, expanding non-farm employment and enhancing trade and overall capital formation.    The Minister was addressing the 29th Regular Meeting of the Executive Committee of Centre on Integrated Rural Development for Asia and Pacific (CIRDAP) here this morning. Inaugurating the Conference, Jain said that in view of the global economic stress, poverty alleviation and rural development issues must continue to be seen as major challenge and opportunity for our region.    He said that poverty eradication has become the central theme of development and accordingly, the Millenium Development goals of the United Nations laid emphasis on reducing all forms of poverty, illiteracy, ill-health and ill-being and he underlined that poverty alleviation is one of the pre-requisites for sustainable and inclusive growth.