Himachal Pradesh achieves 108 percent target under MGNREGS: Anil Sharma

State level Vigilance & Monitoring Committee Meeting held
Shimla, April 11, 2017: Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Minister Shri Anil Sharma said that the State Government was giving utmost attention on the welfare and upliftment of poorest of the poor, downtrodden, persons with special abilities, women folk, scheduled caste/scheduled tribe and minorities in the society and numerous welfare and developmental schemes had successfully been implemented in the State to achieve this objective.

He was presiding over the State level Vigilance & Monitoring Committee meeting , here today.

Minister said that under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Yojna (MGNREGS), 240 lakh mandays were generated against target of 218 lakh mandays during 2016-17 spending Rs. 625 crore against Rs. 396 crore target and the achievement was 108 percent. He said funds of Rs. 700 crore had been got approved for current financial year to generate 250 lakh mandays. He said the state was now able to clear all previous liabilities. He said Rs. 1.95000 lakh had been spent on various components of the scheme from 2013-14 to 2016-17.

Rural Development Minister said Rs. 500 crore project under Deen Dyal Rural Skill Scheme had been adopted by the State Government and first instalment of Rs. 133 crore has also been received. The scheme envisages to provide job oriented training for 15000 unemployed youth between 18-35 years age of BPL families during next three years. The State had already completed selection of 5400 youth for this year, added he.

Similarly the National Rural Livelihood Mission (NLRM) aimed to strengthen and provide greater financial support to the poor families and with the goal of poverty alleviation through social mobilization, capacity building, financial inclusion, skill generation and sustainable livelihood is being implemented in letter and spirit in the State. As of today 15563 Self Help Groups had been formulated across the State and funds of Rs. 12072 lakh had been disbursed for adopting own ventures, informed the Minister.

Shri Anil Sharma said under Pradhan Mantri Awas Gramin Yojna launched in 2016-17 (erstwhile Indira Awas Yojna), 3501 houses were sanctioned for which Rs. 6590 lakh were allotted to eligible families.

Discussing on Swachh Bharat Mission, the Minister said that the State had received first prize for being ‘Open Defecation Free’ among the big States of the Country, yet we have to go far away. He said 202687 toilets had been constructed in the State from 2013 to 2017 achieving cent percent target. He said Solid Liquid Waste Management will be implemented in a project mode in all the punchayats of the State for which each gram panchayat would be Rs. 7 lakh to 20 lakh as per the basis of households.

It was informed that 2872 works of outlay 4670 crore were sanctioned under Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojna, out of which 2121 were completed providing connectivity to 3445 habitations. As many as 1900 works had been allotted for current financial year to cost Rs. 600 crore.

Minister complimented the Officers of Rural Development Department for effective implementation of various welfare schemes and flagship programmes thus achieving 108 percent of the fixed target. He also asked the Officers for minutely supervising and monitoring all the schemes and ensuring timely benefits to the eligible families upto last corner in the State.

MLA Shri Sanjay Rattan and Col. Inder Singh raised various issues of the poor people and also gave their valuable suggestions during the meeting.

Principal Secretary, Panchayati Raj & Rural Development Shri Onkar Sharma while conducting the proceedings of the meeting assured the Committee that the Department had already geared up for ensuring timely benefit of all the schemes to the poor and eligible and completion of ongoing developmental projects in the State.

Director (RD) Shri R. Selvam presented the vote of thanks.

Chief Executive Officer NLRM Shri S.M. Sani, Project Director Shri Bhuwan and Officers of Line Departments gave a detailed overview of their departments on this occasion.

Official and non official members of the Committee were also present in the meeting.