CCpur scores high, but… Fund restriction stares at NREGS in other dists

A review meeting on the progress of NREGS programmes was held at Old Secretariat conference hall yesterday. The meeting was attended by NREGS Director Nitenchandra, Deputy Commissioners and the Rural Development Commissioner.

The meeting while welcoming the large number of people coming forward to work for NREGS, observed that the scheme is making little progress due to improper implementation.

The NREGS Director mooted provision of adequate working tools, tarpaulins to shield workers from rain and heat and medical kits so as to bring progress in the scheme.

In this regard, the Director instructed DCs to utilise properly 40 percent of the NREGS fund specifically included under the head of material component.

The Director also flayed the failure of officials concerned to submit information about daily work progress and other relevant data on the website.

Observing that most of the NREGS works in the State are confined to making/improvising roads, Nitenchandra suggested that the area of work may be expanded to water conservation measures, tree sapling plantation, cleaning up canals and other sustainable and resource regenerating activities.

Taking into account the Central Government’s directive which would prohibit payment of wages in cash from October and the approval of the Ministry of Rural Development and Postal Department to open accounts of the workers on zero balance, the Director instructed the relevant officials to help NREGS workers of the State open their accounts. He categorically instructed the State officials to pay wages every forthnight.

Expressing dissatisfaction at the current pace of NREGS implementation, the Director hinted that further funding of NREGS programme may be terminated if there is no progress. Yet, Nitenchandra conveyed satisfaction over NREGS implementation in Churachandpur district out of the nine districts of Manipur.

The NREGS Director was visiting the State for the second time and was reviewing NREGS implementation in the State. He would be visiting Imphal two more times in the coming days to observe progress of NREGS works.

In case the NREGS Director finds the progress made in NREGS implementation dissatisfactory during his next visit, further funding of the scheme may be stalled, conveyed officials of Rural Development Department.

During the meeting, Rural Development officials presented their case saying that they encountered difficulties in maintaining progress and also in putting up data and work progress status on daily basis due to shortage of staff.

Nevertheless, the Department is working hard to put up data and work progress status in website from March next year after recruiting necessary manpower.

Moreover, considering absence of bank branches in remote and interior areas of the State, the Departments has made preparations to sign an MoU with the Postal Department on enabling NREGS workers open their accounts at zero balance on September 29, stated the Rural Development officials.

Source: The Sangai Express