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Initiative towards Energizing MGNREGA. ……………
Govt. to look into revision of schedule of rates for
MNREGS
Jun 16, 2017 02:43 PM IST
Source: Moneycontrol.com
The schedule of rates refers to the amount of work a
worker has to do to earn a full day’s wage. Many
states have their own schedule of rates according to
the soil types in the state, as most of the works under
MNREGS are related to earth.
Moneycontrol News
A committee chaired by Nagesh Singh, the additional
secretary in the Rural Development Ministry, will look
into the revision of Mahatma Gandhi National Rural
Employment Guarantee Scheme (MNREGS) wages,
according to a report by The Economic Times.
The committee, comprising state secretaries, will look
into the revision of wage structure for NREGS. The
central government has found huge differences in the
schedule of rates employed by each state for the
scheme. The committee would recommend a band of
rates to be followed by states in order to have a more
identical rate structure, the newspaper quotes
government officials.
The schedule of rates refers to the amount of work a
worker has to do to earn a full day’s wage. Many states
have their own schedule of rates according to the soil
types in the state, as most of the works under
MNREGS are related to earth.
MGNREGS UPDATE News for Internal Circulation No. 69/ June 16, 2017 – June 30, 2017 Foundation for Ecological Security
Inside News
• Government makes 86% timely payment under MGNREGA in April-June period
• 75 crore person days’ work generated under MGNREGS
• Ministry of Rural Development honors individuals for ‘effective initiatives’
• Centre to Award 6 Odisha Districts For Achievement in PMAY, Grameen
• NITI praises 1991 reforms under Cong, to pitch for MGNREGA
• Niti Aayog vindicates UPA’s claims on poverty alleviation
• DBT Windfall: Government Saved Rs 20,000 Crore Last Fiscal, Total Savings Hit Rs 57,000 Crore
• Bengal tops the country in MGNREGA implementation.
• CM pitches for innovation in MGNREGA implementation
Articles
• Government moves to end disparity in NREGS schedule of rates
Government Order
• Meeting to review the progress on DBT and MIS related issues – reg.
• Regarding training of STRT, DTRT and BTRT under SAKSHAM
Initiative towards Energizing MGNREGA. ……………
The wage revisions are currently based on changes in
Consumer Price Index for agricultural labour. The
most recent revision has been of 2.7 percent for 2017-
18, which resulted in an effective hike of mere Rs 1 in
states such as Bihar, Jharkhand and Uttar Pradesh.
The wage revisions are currently based on changes in
Consumer Price Index for agricultural labour. The
most recent revision has been of 2.7 percent for 2017-
18, which resulted in an effective hike of mere Rs 1 in
states such as Bihar, Jharkhand and Uttar Pradesh. An
earlier report by the ministry had also noted that
revisions in minimum wages by states were irregular.
The disparity in schedules of one state to the other
results in a labourer in Bihar to working thrice as much
as in other states with similar soil condition to earn a
day’s wage.
http://www.moneycontrol.com/news/business/economy/govt-to-
look-into-revision-of-schedule-of-rates-for-mnregs-2305897.html
Government makes 86% timely payment under
MGNREGA in April-June period
By ET Bureau | Jun 30, 2017, 05.36 PM IST
NEW DELHI: Government has managed to make 86
per cent timely payment under the Mahatma Gandhi
National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme for
April-June 2017.
Supreme Court had pulled up the Centre over the issue
of delayed payments under NREGS at a time when
farmers were reeling under drought conditions. Only
64 per cent payments were made on time during April-
June 2016 to NREGS workers.
Rural development ministry had released Rs 23,443
crore -- half of the budgetary allocation under the
scheme to states in April itself to ensure that there is
adequate flow of funds and to avoid delays.
Government has made 99 per cent of payments
through the electronic financial management system
for faster transfer of funds into the bank accounts of
beneficiaries.
Supreme Court had pulled up the Centre over the issue
of delayed payments under NREGS at a time when
farmers were reeling under drought conditions.
(Representative image)
"The Central Government has ensured timely release
of funds and States have responded by strengthening
the implementation machinery to provide timely
payments," a press statement by rural development
ministry said.
Nearly 75 crore person days of work has already been
created so far under the scheme. More than 74 per cent
of expenditure has been undertaken for agriculture and
allied activities works. NREGS has claimed to have
created over 91 lakh hectares irrigation potential in the
last 2 years, which is currently being evaluated by the
Institute of Economic Growth.
Government has also weeded out fake and invalid 1.1
crore job cards in a verification exercise which is still
underway. Nearly 87 per cent job cards have been
verified so far. There has been a registration of 89 lakh
new job cards to ensure that deprived households get
work.
Initiative towards Energizing MGNREGA. ……………
According to government data, among over 10.8 crore
active workers, 5.2 crore are currently on the Aadhaar-
based Payment System (ABPS) and over 9 crore
workers have seeded their Aadhaar details with
consent for NREGS.
The Centre has asked all states to finish the financial
audit of the scheme for 2016-17 by September this
year so that the remaining amount allocated to the
scheme can be released early. The ministry has also
drawn up a list of states accounting for maximum
transactions and delays to sharpen focus on timely
payments. Nearly 95 per cent of the transactions are
done by 17 states.
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/economy/finance/gover
nment-makes-86-timely-payment-under-the-mgnrega-in-april-june-
period/articleshow/59386893.cms
75 crore person days’ work generated under
MGNREGS
Our Bureau ,New Delhi, June 30
A total of 75 crore person days’ work has been created
under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment
Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) during the past three
months, the Ministry of Rural Development said on
Friday.
“Around 80 lakh to one crore workers are seeking
work every day under this scheme and 86 per cent of
them are paid within 15 days,” said the Ministry.
The Ministry noted that 99 per cent of payments under
MGNREGS are made using electronic Financial
Management System.
The Ministry said: “5.2 crore workers are already on
the Aadhaar-based Payment System.
Over nine crore workers have seeded their Aadhaar
details. Of these, 87 per cent have been verified and
there has been additional registration of 89 lakh new
job cards.”
The government estimates that MGNREGS has
created over 91 lakh hectares irrigation potential in the
last two years and completion of 2.62 lakh water
conservation works in this year.
http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/economy/75-crore-person-
days-work-generated-under-mgnregs/article9743767.ece
Ministry of Rural Development honors individuals
for ‘effective initiatives’
By Accommodation Times Bureau
The Ministry of Rural Development organized an
Award function on 19th June, 2017. The Programme
showcased achievements under different programmes
implemented by the Ministry of Rural Development.
States, Institutions and Government Functionaries,
who have done commendable work under different
schemes were awarded in the function. Short films on
Water Conservation under Geo-MGNREGA,
Construction of houses under Pradhan Mantri Aawaas
Yojana of Jadia Bai, a 100 year old tribal women of
Madhya Pradesh and an audio visual song on PMGSY
which was sung by Shanwere also shown. A Citizen
centric mobile application on MGNREGA capable of
providing information on different aspects of
GNREGA Programme was launched by the Minister
Initiative towards Energizing MGNREGA. ……………
for Rural Development. The Department of Rural
Development extensively uses Information and Space
Technology in its programme management and the
“Jan-MGNREGA” App is a third such citizen centric
initiative of the department after “Meri Sadak” and
“Aawas” mobile app.
Total of 144 Awards were given under different
programmes. Awards on Sustainable Livelihood,
Transparency and Accountability, Aadhaar Seeding,
Conversion and Geo-MGNREGA were given under
MGNREGA. Under Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak
Yojana, awards were given to States for highest
amount of rural roads (Bihar) and use of Non
conventional construction material (Madhya Pradesh).
Haryana, Gujarat and Karnataka received a special
prize for completing more than 95 percent of PMGSY
(Phase I &II) targets. Under PMAY-G Awards were
given to States which performed well on different
parameters, Central Building Research Institute,
Roorkee which provided technical vetting of housing
typologies, NIC team of the Department of Rural
Development for technical support and Dr. Prabir
Kumar Das, Senior citizen, Advisor, UNDP for
significant contribution in use of innovative
technologies. 9 District Collectors who have
completed largest number of PMAY-G houses were
also awarded, the significant part being 5 of the 9
District Collectors coming from Odisha.
Awards were given to National Resource
Organizations, State Rural Livelihood Missions and
Punjab National Bank, State Bank of India, Allahabad
Bank, Indian Overseas Bank, UCO Bank, Central
Bank of India and ICICI Bank. The States which
received awards were Andhra Pradesh, Telangana,
Kerala, Chhatisgarh, Jharkhand, Odisha, Madhya
Pradesh, Rajasthan, Bihar, Karnataka and West Bengal
under different categories. Under skill development
category the best performing States, best champion
employers and best training partners, received the
awards.
There was also a presentation on the key findings of
evaluation of National Rural Livelihood Mission
carried out by Indian Institute of Rural Management,
Anand. Evaluation report had highlighted the main
strength of the programme and has given many
suggestions for strengthening and expansion of the
programme across the country.
The Minister of State for Rural Development, Shri
Ram Kripal Yadav, complimented the award winners
and highlighted the role of institutional partnerships in
successful implementation of rural development
programmes. The Minister for Rural Development,
Shri Narendra Singh Tomar congratulated the award
winners. He highlighted the major transformation that
was brought by the Government in programme
execution. He indicated that the Government has
completed restructure MGNREGA. The investments
are channelized for Water harvesting, Water
Conservation and Agricultural and Allied activities to
strengthen resource base of the rural poor. Targets
under PMAY–G and PMGSY have been set for 2019
and the Government is fully committed to provide
financial support to the States to achieve these targets.
He also highlighted the use of Information Technology
and Space Technology in programme monitoring and
in obtaining citizens feedback through mobile
applications. Shri Tomar, mentioned employment
generation under different programmes of the
department, especially the skilling of rural youth and
skilled employment opportunities being created for
them. He also highlighted challenges that people faced
in rural areas and exhorted the State Governments,
Officials and other Stake Holders to work together to
Initiative towards Energizing MGNREGA. ……………
overcome these challenges and provide a better deal to
people.
http://accommodationtimes.com/ministry-of-rural-development-
honors-individuals-for-effective-initiatives/
Centre to Award 6 Odisha Districts For
Achievement in PMAY, Grameen
The Centre has selected Ganjam as one of the six
districts in the state for the national award for
significant achievement in completion of Pradhan
Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY), Grameen - the rural
housing scheme for 2016-17.
PTI, Updated: June 18, 2017, 8:10 PM IST
Berhampur (Odisha): The Centre has selected Ganjam
as one of the six districts in the state for the national
award for significant achievement in completion of
Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY), Grameen - the
rural housing scheme for 2016-17.
Other districts which have been selected by the Union
Rural Development Ministry for the prestigious award
are Sambalpur, Bolangir, Mayurbhanj, Sundargarh and
Balasore, officials on Sunday said.
The collectors of the districts will be felicitated in a
ceremony held at New Delhi soon. Ganjam district
collector Prem Chandra Chaudhary will attend the
ceremony to receive the award, the officials said.
As against the target of construction of 13,395 houses
in rural areas under the PMAY (Grameen) during
2016-17, as many as 1,362 houses have been
completed so far in the district, said Project Director,
District Rural Development Agency (DRDA), Vijay
Amrut Kulangee.
The other houses are in different stages and are
expected to be completed in next 2 to 3 months, he
said.
Out of the set target, the administration has sanctioned
for construction of 13,123 houses in the district during
the year, officials said.
Significant achievements in the rural housing scheme
is that, the administration has provided funds for other
components like construction of toilets (Rs 12,000)
under the Swachha Bharat Mission, drains (Rs 5,000),
vermiculture (Rs 15,000) and wages of 95 days under
the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment
Guarantee Act (MGNREGA).
Besides, an incentive of Rs 20,000 will also be
provided by the state government to the beneficiary on
successful completion of the house within four months
of getting the work order.
These benefits are provided to a beneficiary in addition
to the cost of construction of the house fixed at Rs 1.30
lakh, said the PD, DRDA.
"A beneficiary will get around Rs 2 lakh for
construction of the house under PMAY (G), if he/she
completes within four months," he added.
Ganjam, which stood second after Sambalpur in
successful implementation of the PMAY (Grameen),
had received the state level award for overall
performances by the state government, recently.
The Chief Minister had awarded a cash prize of Rs 50
lakh to the district recently.
http://www.news18.com/news/india/centre-to-award-6-odisha-
districts-for-achievement-in-pmay-grameen-1436405.html
Initiative towards Energizing MGNREGA. ……………
NITI praises 1991 reforms under Cong, to pitch for
MGNREGA
The report, authored by Niti Aayog vice chairman
Arvind Panagariya, says much of India’s rapid growth
stems from economic reforms initiated in 1991.
Updated: Jun 25, 2017 00:02 IST
Jatin Gandhi Hindustan Times, New Delhi
NITI Aayog vice chairman Arvind Panagariya (Mint
File Photo)
The ruling BJP might be pursuing the goal of a
‘Congress-mukt Bharat’ as a solution to the country’s
problems, but a government report prepared by the
NITI Aayog — its think tank — feels otherwise.
The report credits economic reforms initiated by the
Narasimha Rao government in 1991 and the UPA’s
rural employment guarantee scheme with improving
India’s development indices.
The Voluntary National Review Report, which maps
the progress India has made on sustainable
development goals (SDGs), will be discussed at the
UN’s High Level Political Forum on Sustainable
Development in New York next month.
“There is compelling evidence that the rapid growth
India has achieved following the economic reforms
initiated in 1991 has led to significant reduction in
poverty. Poverty has fallen across all economic, social
and religious groups nationally and in all states in the
post-reform era.
Sustained growth (6.2% from 1993-94 to 2003-04 and
8.3% from 2004-05 to 2011-12) has created gainful
employment and helped raise wages,” the report,
authored by Aayog vice-chairman Arvind Panagariya
says.
The report also praises a number of initiatives of the
current government, ranging from the Pradhan Mantri
Jan Dhan Yojana, the Clean India campaign to
providing soil health cards to farmers. “Over 130
million people have accessed life and accident
insurance under the programmes. Efforts are underway
to universalise access to basic services. In order to
achieve the goal of housing for all by 2022, direct
financial assistance is being extended to poor
households,” it says.
In February 2015, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had
mocked the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural
Employment Guarantee (MGNREGA) programme,
dubbing it “a living monument” of the UPA’s failures.
“After 60 years, you are still making people dig
holes,’’ he had said. But in the last budget, the
government announced plans to improve the existing
scheme and allocate more funds for it.
“Several large-scale anti-poverty programmes have
been implemented. The Mahatma Gandhi National
Rural Employment Guarantee Act, for instance, has
generated over two billion person-days of employment
during 2016-17 alone, largely for the disadvantaged
sections of society,” the report now says. It goes on to
list a number of initiatives for poverty eradication.
Initiatives like the Make in India campaign
“accelerated Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) inflows
Initiative towards Energizing MGNREGA. ……………
and helped the country sustain an average growth of
7.5 percent during the last three financial years (2014-
15 to 2016-17)”, the report points out.
Apart from notable progress over the last decade, the
statistics in the report also point to the problem areas.
For instance, stunted growth among children remains
an issue, though it is down from nearly 50% in 2005-
06 to 38.4% a decade later. Similarly, less than half of
Indian households (43.8%) have access to clean fuel.
http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/niti-praises-1991-
reforms-under-cong-to-pitch-for-mgnrega/story-
3CdkAcOpbiCUHXsZoBzhtO.html
Niti Aayog vindicates UPA’s claims on
poverty alleviation
The Niti Aayog's report, submitted before the United
Nations, acknowledges that anti-poverty programmes
like the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment
Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) helped weaker sections of
the society.
Written by Pranav Mukul | New Delhi | Published:June
27, 2017 2:13 am
The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development has
called on different countries to begin efforts to achieve
the 17 defined goals over the next 15-year period
Vindicating the UPA government’s stand on pulling
people out of poverty, India’s Voluntary National
Review Report on the implementation of Sustainable
Development Goals to the United Nations has said that
sustained growth of 8.3 per cent from 2004-05 to
2011-12, and 6.2 per cent during 1993-94 to 2003-04
“created gainful employment and helped raise wages
thereby directly empowering the poor”. The Niti
Aayog led the preparation of the report, as part of its
role to co-ordinate for the 2030 Agenda for sustainable
development. The review report was submitted to the
UN last week, and will be discussed at a meeting of
multilateral agency’s High Level Political Forum in
July.
The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development has
called on different countries to begin efforts to achieve
the 17 defined goals over the next 15-year period. “It
has also brought the government an increased volume
of revenues enabling it to sustain a high level of social
spending and, thus, doubling the direct effect of
growth on poverty,” the report said, adding that
implementation of several large-scale anti-poverty
programmes such as the MGNREGA has helped the
weaker sections of the society. “The Mahatma Gandhi
National Rural Employment Guarantee Act
(MGNREGA), for instance, has generated over 2
billion person-days of employment during 2016-17
alone, largely for the disadvantaged sections of
society,” the report added, highlighting that women
and disadvantaged groups have been the largest
beneficiaries of the rural job guarantee scheme,
accounting for 56 per cent and 39 per cent of person-
days of work generated during the last year,
respectively.
Data released in 2013 by the erstwhile Planning
Commission, which was replaced by the Niti Aayog,
had shown that from 2004-05 onwards, almost 2 crore
people were pulled out of poverty every year from
2004-05 onwards, resulting in a decline in number of
Initiative towards Energizing MGNREGA. ……………
people below the Tendulkar poverty line to 270
million in 2011-12 from 407 million in 2004-05.
“There is compelling evidence that the rapid growth
India has achieved following the economic reforms
initiated in 1991 has led to significant reduction in
poverty. Poverty has fallen across all economic, social
and religious groups nationally and in all states in the
post-reform era,” the Niti Aayog noted in the report. It
has highlighted these points in its first Sustainable
Development Goal to “end poverty in all its forms
everywhere”.
Furthermore, the voluntary review report also
highlights the importance of food security in dealing
with the ill-effects of poverty. “A direct consequence
of poverty is food insecurity. To address this problem,
the National Food Security Act provides a basic
quantity of food grains to nearly 75 per cent of the
population in rural areas and 50 per cent of the
population in urban areas at affordable prices under the
Targeted Public Distribution System,” it said. The PDS
programme provides 5 kg wheat or rice per person per
month at subsidised rates.
Going forward, the report has said that efforts are
required to make access to basic services universal,
with drinking water and sanitation being priority areas
apart from programmes that are already underway
including housing for all, increasing access to
education, health and nutritional security, with a
special focus on “vulnerable groups such as women
and children”.
In the opening statement of the report, Niti Aayog
vice-chairman Arvind Panagariya has noted that while
India remains committed to protecting the
environment, the success of the Paris Agreement
required other signatories to “make good on their
commitment as well”. “These … include the provision
of financial resources to the tune of $100 billion per
year for the developing countries,” he wrote. Recently,
the US pulled out of the Paris accord, which aims at
reducing global carbon emissions.
“Even as it combats poverty, India remains committed
to protecting the environment. Under its Nationally
Determined Contributions, India has ambitiously
committed to reducing the emissions intensity per unit
of GDP by 33-35 per cent by 2030 relative to its 2005
levels. Furthermore, it plans to create an additional
carbon sink of 2.5-3 billion tonnes through additional
tree cover,” Panagariya noted.
Additionally, the review report elaborated on how
expansion of transportation forms such as waterways,
rural road connectivity, would result in reduction of
logistics-related costs and have a positive
environmental impact. “A total length of 8,000 km of
pavements and cycle tracks will also be laid in 106
cities over the course of the next five years to promote
non-motorised transport and reduce the carbon
footprint,” it said.
It said that the Centre has set an investment target of
Rs 25 lakh crore, or $390 billion, for infrastructure
development over a period of three years 2016-2019.
The government is also making efforts to mobilise
additional resources, it pointed out. “For instance, the
monetisation of 75 publicly funded highway projects
of value Rs 356 billion ($5.6 billion) via the toll-
operate-transfer mode will finance the construction of
2,700 km of roads. Moreover, the Indian Railways is
setting up a Rs 350 billion ($ 5.5 billion) Railways of
India Development Fund to serve as an institutional
mechanism for raising funds from the market,” the
report noted.
Initiative towards Energizing MGNREGA. ……………
Furthermore, the review report said that there was
scope for boosting domestic resources by expanding
the tax base and strengthening the tax administration
system, considering that the tax to GDP ratio in India
was significantly lower than the average for BRICS
countries. “The Indian government has committed to
the implementation of an ambitious tax reform agenda,
including the Goods and Services Tax (GST) as well
as direct tax reforms to increase domestic resource
mobilisation, while committing to keeping public debt
at sustainable levels in the medium term,” it said.
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/niti-aayog-report-upa-govt-
poverty-alleviation-congress-4723525/
DBT Windfall: Government Saved Rs 20,000 Crore
Last Fiscal, Total Savings Hit Rs 57,000 Crore
Swarajya Staff, Jun 29 20, 12:41 pm,
In the fiscal year (FY) 2016-17, the government has
managed to save huge sums of money through better
targeting of schemes such as the Mahatma Gandhi
National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme
(MGNREGS) and PAHAL, using Aadhaar and direct
benefit transfer (DBT), Aman Sharma of the Economic
Times has reported.
Through DBT, all benefits are transferred directly to
the beneficiary’s account.
MGNREGS has emerged as the biggest winner, with
more than Rs 8,741 crore saved in the last financial
year. Just behind MGNREGS is liquefied petroleum
gas subsidy scheme called PAHAL, with Rs 8,185
crore saved. In total, the government has saved Rs
20,000 crore through DBT in various schemes last
fiscal. This has raised its cumulative savings since
taking office to Rs 57,029 crore.
The introduction of Aadhaar in MGNREGS has led to
scrapping of nearly one crore fake and fraudulent job
cards, a government official has told the newspaper.
This has brought down the total number of job cards
under the scheme to 12 crore.
"It is ironical that a UPA government’s subsidy
scheme is bringing the maximum savings for the
current government. We have seeded 85 per cent of
MGNREGS accounts with Aadhaar," the official was
quoted by the newspaper as saying.
https://swarajyamag.com/insta/dbt-windfall-government-saved-rs-
20000-crore-last-fiscal-total-savings-hit-rs-57000-crore
Bengal tops the country in MGNREGA
implementation
Tarun Goswami | 19 Jun 2017 11:49 PM | Kolkata
West Bengal has been declared the best state in the
country in imparting livelihood through convergence
under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural
Employment Guarantee Act ( MGNREGA) scheme.
The state has for the first time bagged six more awards
in different categories for excellent work in rural
development. Narendra Singh Tomar, Union Minister
for Rural Development handed over the prizes at a
function held at Vijnan Bhavan in New Delhi on
Monday morning. Dibyendu Sarkar, commissioner,
Panchayats and Rural Development Department took
Initiative towards Energizing MGNREGA. ……………
the award comprising a 24 carat gold plate for
becoming the best state in imparting livelihood
through convergence under MGNREGA. This
recognition demolishes the claim made by some BJP
leaders including the party president Amit Shah that no
rural development had taken place in West Bengal
under Mamata Banerjee.
West Bengal has bagged awards in Dindayal
Upadhyay National Rural Livelihood Mission
(NRLM) and Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojna (
PMGSY). Two districts, Nadia and Cooch Bihar have
been adjudged the best in their respective categories.
While Nadia has been declared the best district in the
country for excellent implementation in MGNREGA,
Cooch Bihar has become the country's best district in
Geo MGNREGA. This is for the first time that the
Rural Development Ministry has started an award in
this category. A district participating in the category
had to submit a presentation before a committee
headed by Satish Agnihotri who is attached to IIT
Delhi. Then a team from the Centre made an on the
spot visit following which the best district was
selected.
It may be mentioned that after coming to power in the
state chief minister Mamata Banerjee accorded
topmost priority to rural development. Steps were
taken to ensure that all rural homes have toilets by
March 2019 and Nadia was the country's first Open
Defecation Free (ODF) district. So far, six districts in
West Bengal have been declared as ODF. Work is
underway to provide drinking water to all rural homes
and the chief minister has inaugurated construction of
25,000 km rural roads. In Nadia district plantation of
Vetiver grass to check soil erosion along the river
christened Subujayan by Mamata Banerjee has
attracted the attention of Vetiver experts throughout
the globe. The state government has taken up a scheme
to plant Vetiver along 730 km of the river bank in the
district. Taking a cue from Nadia's success, East
Midnapore district administration is also planting the
grass to prevent soil erosion. Over 60 nurseries have
been set up in Nadia to grow the grass.
http://www.millenniumpost.in/big-stories/big-stories-248159
CM pitches for innovation in MGNREGA
implementation
MEGHALAYA, On Jun 24, 2017
Chief Minister Mukul Sangma hands over an award to
a VEC member for effective and innovative
contribution in the implementation of MGNREGS.
SHILLONG: Chief Minister Mukul Sangma has asked
the Village Employment Council functionaries under
MGNREGA to try to achieve the 100 days guaranteed
wages and to supplement it with innovative and
convergence efforts taking advantage of the fund
available.
Inaugurating the Conference of Village Employment
Councils at the Convocation Hall of NEHU, Sangma
said that the occasion is also an opportunity to come
together and celebrate their 10 years of partnership
with the Government in the implementation of
MGNREGA.
Initiative towards Energizing MGNREGA. ……………
Minister, Animal Husbandry & Veterinary H D R
Lyngdoh and Pro Vice Chancellor, NEHU, Henry
Lamin were also present for the inaugural session.
The Chief Minister said that 60:40 ratio of the wage
and material component under MGNREGA is an issue
which poses difficulties for the VECs, who have
limited choices in their plans to create durable assets
which involve high materials cost.
He further informed that since 2016-2017 the
government has earmarked Rs 5 lakh each of rural
constituencies under CMSRDF to utilise it in
convergence with MGNREGS so that durable assets
can be created.
He also said that the VEC model developed in the state
is the best that is blended with the traditional
institutions and Meghalaya is one of the top
performers in the country.
He added that it is the responsibility of both the
government and the VECs to infuse a sense of
enthusiasm and commitment and shoulder the
objective as a shared agenda.
CM releases Livestock Mission Document
Sangma also released the Livestock Mission
Document during the occasion. The Livestock Mission
is a convergence mission designed by Government of
Meghalaya to create ecologically sustainable
livelihood in the rural areas.
The five year mission will ensure 40 % households of
livestock farming and the mission will encourage
micro entrepreneurship and also promote breeding
centers.
The conference was attended by VEC functionaries
from six districts of Khasi and Jaintia Hills and from
24 C & RD Blocks.
Senior officers from various line departments were
also present during the occasion.
http://www.theshillongtimes.com/2017/06/24/cm-pitches-for-
innovation-in-mgnrega-implementation/
Government moves to end disparity in NREGS
schedule of rates
By Ruchika Chitravanshi
NEW DELHI: A worker needs to dig as much as 80
feet in Bihar to earn a day’s wage under the Mahatma
Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee
Scheme, nearly thrice as much as another worker in a
different state with similar soil conditions.
The government has found such large disparities in the
schedule of rates for its flagship rural jobs programme
which lead to a huge difference in the wage rates as
well.
The average wages under the scheme were increased
2.7% for 2017-18 following the changes in Consumer
Price Index for agricultural labour.
Initiative towards Energizing MGNREGA. ……………
The schedule of rates refers to the amount of work a
labourer has to do to earn a full day’s wage.
A committee comprising state secretaries formed to
look into the revision of MGNREGS wages will hold a
meeting next week to suggest a band of rates which the
states should follow in order to have a more identical
rate structure, officials said. Headed by Nagesh Singh,
additional secretary in the rural development ministry,
the committee had last month sent a group of engineers
to examine the schedule of rates in different states.
“Some of the states have declared a separate schedule
for MGNREGS wages. If we have to correct the wage
rates in MGNREGS we first need to remove these
disparities,” said a senior government official, who did
not wish to be identified. The government wants to
define a range of wage rates for all the works
identified under MGNREGS after getting the states on
board.
The committee chaired by Singh was to examine the
recommendations made last year by the Mahendra Dev
Committee on the wage calculation methodology.
The average wages under the scheme were increased
2.7% for 2017-18 following the changes in Consumer
Price Index for agricultural labour. For several states
including Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand and
Uttarakhand this translated to a mere Rs 1 hike in
wages.
While the committee will consult states on switching
from CPI for agricultural labour to CPI for rural areas
and linking it to minimum wages for states, fixing the
schedule of rates will help in wage correction to a far
greater extent, the senior official said.
The committee is also studying the financial impact of
switching the price index for wage calculation for the
scheme and is likely to make a presentation to the
finance ministry next month with its final
recommendations, he said.
According to government data, 56 crore person days of
work has been generated since the beginning of this
financial year and 87% of wage payments have been
made within 15 days of work done as mandated under
the programme.
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/economy/policy/govern
ment-moves-to-end-disparity-in-nregs-schedule-of-
rates/articleshow/59168095.cms
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