Mail News Service
Imphal, June 10 : The MGNREGS a flagship programme of the government is implemented best in Manipur in India, Jairam Ramesh , Minister, Rural Development said here today addressing the media at Old Secretariat. He said all rural roads will be connected within the next three years. I Hemochandra, Minister and Francis Ngajokpa , Minister also attended the conference.
Ramesh said he would send a team to look into the way the programme is implemented . If the data provided is true it would be a big achievement he said. The national average is 45 days of employment in a year while in Manipur it is 80 days. Only eight percent household can be given 100 days of assured employment in the country but in Manipur 32 percent household are covered. It is an amazing accomplishment, Jairam said. This year Rs 650 cr was given for MGNREGS and next year will Rs 950 cr will be sanctioned.
He further said he discussed the issue of road connectivity in rural areas in Manipur with Chief Minister, O Ibobi Singh last evening for about two hours. It has been decided that all villages with 250 plus citizens will be connected within the next three years in the state. What the government has achieved in the last 12 years should be accomplished within the next three years he said.
Though there are 1044 villages only 245 have been connected and the government of India has yet to approve connectivity for 554 villages he said. This year Rs 670 cr will be given to the state government to ensure road connectivity in rural areas. The report is prepared by Manipur state officials and approved by state technical agency (STA) , Silchar. It has been decided that henceforth the Manipur Institute of Technology will be responsible for assessing the reports. He asked the state government to oursource the planning so that works can be expedited. He also asked the government to expand the Manipur Rural roads Agency. There is shortage of young energetic engineers to carry out the works he said and more engineers should be recruited.
Francis said as the centre has banned recruitments in the state a policy is required to appoint engineers.
To improve water supply the state PHED has proposed a Rs 64 cr project to replace the old polythene pipes he said. Out of 160 Gram Panchayats in the state only two GP are under Nirmal GP. Within five years all 160 will be covered and open defecation should become history within five years he instructed the state government. Rs 10,000 will be given to construct a toilet to every household.
He also inspected some women Self help groups in the state and he was surprised that there is no banking facilities in rural areas. Out of 60 blocks only 30 blocks have banking facilities and only 16 blocks have internet connectivity. With banking and internet facilities in the blocks the women working various self help groups can not be given full assistance. He said it is the responsibility of the central government to assure banking and internet facilities. He assured that after reaching New Delhi he will discuss the matter with the Prime Minister and the Finance Minister.
To ensure that schemes are well implemented social audits should be done twice a year which is not done anywhere except Andhra Pradesh. He also assured to increase the assistance under Indira Awas Yojana from Rs 48,000 to Rs 75,000. He also received a proposal to construct a balley bridge from Thanga to Karang at Loktak lake. He further said a botanical garden can be maintained inside the Kangla.
Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/rural-road-connectivity-within-three-years-mgnregs-implemented-best-in-manipur-jairam-ramesh/
