SRINAGAR: Minister for Rural Development & Panchayati Raj, Abdul Rehman Veeri has said that the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) is making significant progress in contributing to livelihood security to the rural people through creation of durable assets. He said that the target given for generation of person days must be achieved so as to help the rural population in changing their socio-economic status.
The Minister said this while addressing the officers of Rural Development Department including ACDs of Kashmir division while reviewing the performance of the department under MGNREGA.
Secretary RDD Sheetal Nanda, Director RDD Kashmir M N Sheikh, Director Finance RDD S L Pandita, Additional Secretary RDD R K Badyal, Joint Director Planning RDD and ACDs of Kashmir division attended the meeting.
During the meeting, district wise details of works taken up under MGNREGS, works completed, person day’s generated and other important issues were discussed in brief.
The Minister sought details from the ACDs regarding ongoing works in their respective districts and the reasons for the delay in completion of works. He asked for expediting the same and to stick to the action plan already approved by the department. Unnecessary delay is causing cost escalation to the works which should be avoided in any case, he added.
Veeri asked the ACDs to accord priority to public importance works and to bring innovation in the working style. He suggested them to fix target for themselves and act accordingly.
The meeting was further informed that the estimation of works for 2018-19 under MGNREGA is underway and soon the works will be taken up as per the new action plan.
Liquidation of wages and material liability was also discussed in the meeting and was told that recently Rs 84 crore has been released for clearing material liability. The ACDs were asked to release the payments at the earliest to the people linked with the works.
Additional Secretary RDD, R K Badyal informed the Minister that Rs 10 crore has been also released to clear the pending salaries of support staff and ACDs were asked to release the same before Eid-ul-Fitr.
Laying stress on taking up of model works in panchayat, block level, the Minister directed the ACDs to submit the action plan in this regard at the earliest. He said that it is important to take up some works that can reflect the performance of the department at different levels.
Veeri asked them to prioritize construction of playfields, irrigation kuls, establishing vermicompost units, organic villages and other important works. He asked the officers to take up the issue with Horticulture and Agriculture department so that the works can be taken up in convergence.
Terming the role of ACDs and BDOs important for bringing change on ground with various MGNREGS works, the Minister said that concerted effort should be made to make MGNREGS develop sustainable livelihoods besides ensuring further improvement in the implementation of programme in the State.
ACDs should conduct regular field visits and to supervise the works on ground. Weekly meeting with BDOs need to be convened for better monitoring of works and to the issues hampering pace of works should be resolved at the earliest.
“MGNREGA should be made visible on ground by providing employment to unskilled youth thus creating durable assets of public importance”, the Minister said adding that this programme is really contributing in transforming the rural sector.
Veeri also asked the ACDs to submit the details of total sanctioned panchayat ghars in their districts, number of incomplete panchayat ghar buildings, details of additional funding required for their completion and details where land is not available for construction of buildings.
He said that land availability issue would be taken up with the concerned DCs and possibilities would be explored to arrange additional funds for the buildings which are still incomplete.