On Left Bank

On Left Bank
Right Direction

Thursday, June 04, 2009

Focus on NREGS in Malda this week

Statesman News Service
MALDA, 3 JUNE: To achieve the target and allot the funds under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS) the Malda district administration will observe NREGS Week from 6 to 12 June across the district, focusing on areas where people do not know about the 100-days job scheme.

The objective of this programme is to make people aware of their right to the 100-days job and its pros and cons. The district magistrate Mr. Sridhar Ghosh will review the progress report after the end of the NREGS Week.

Primarily, the district administration has asked the block and panchayat officials to take up at least one scheme in each gram sansad , estimating that each will be funded by a minimum of Rs. 1 lakh. The distrit administration has a target of utilising Rs.2000 lakh or more during NREGS Week, as the district has a total of 2008 gram sansad.

Recently, the state government has directed the selection of various new schemes for the rapid utilisation of funds for providing 100 days job to registered labourers.

According to the district nodal officer of the NREGS, Mr. Tanay Deb Sarkar, under the NREGA block and panchayat officials can take up social forestry programmes, schemes for orchards, renovation of pond for fishery, and registered labourers may be engaged in earth work under the Pradhan Mantro Gram Sadak Yojona. Under the supervision of the irrigation department registered labourers can build embankments across the district for flood protection.

“The NREGS was a ‘supply driven’ programme here but we want to make it a ‘demand driven’ one one observing NREGS Week. People will always demand 100-days job from local bodies”, said Mr. Tanya Deb Sarkar, nodal officer of the NREGS in Malda.

District magistrate Mr. Sridhar Ghosh said:” The progress of the NREGS in April and May was better than last year. The district has been able to utilise Rs.1184 crore in the past tow months, though officials were busy with elections. The district was only able to utilise Rs. 3.62 core in April and May in the last financial year”.

No comments: