Sustainable asset creation, skill enhancement key to MGNREGA success in Doda

DODA, JULY 25: The developmental index in the Doda district is in upward swing as many key projects of public importance have come up during the last fiscal, after the direction by Minister for Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, Abdul Haq to the RDD to focus on sustainable asset creation under MGNREGA.

 To review the performance of the Department in executing various core developmental works, Abdul Haq chaired a meeting here today during which it was said that 169 culverts and 34 bridges have been constructed in the year 2016-17 to improve surface connectivity in remote villages of the district.

          The meeting was told that in collaboration with the Department of Fisheries, 142 fish ponds were also developed under MGNREGA to open up various avenues of employment for the unemployed youth of the district.

          It was said that 25 play fields have also been constructed in various villages of the district for during the period to provide recreational facilities and for promotion of sports activities

          The Department has also constructed 158 drains which improved sanitation system in rural areas, besides 57 traditional water bodies in the district were also renovated.  

          Under Swach Bharat Abhiyan, the Department has also constructed 1838 individual Household Latrines (IHHL) and 11 vermicomposts.

          The Minister was briefed that the Department had set a target of creating 26 lakh man-days under MGNREGA in the last fiscal, however, the Department achieved 149 percent target thereby generating 38.81 lakh man days.

          It was also said that the RDD has spent Rs 115.98 crore out of the available budget of Rs 116.52 crore on various developmental works by the end of the last financial year in the district. Under the available budget, the Department had taken up 7568 works out of which 7336 works were completed during the same period.

          During the current financial year, the district has an allocation of Rs 298.62 crore under MGNREGA including 28.63 crore of labour component. Under the said budget, the department has proposed to take up 15652 works out of which 1541 works have been approved for the first quarter of the year. The district has 70109 job card holders in the district and 1.74 lakh man days have been generated by the end of June 2017, the meeting was told.

          On the occasion, the Minister lauded the role of RDD officers in the effective implementation of the development programmes. He said the RDD is meant for the welfare of the downtrodden people. He said it is the duty of the officials and the Government to ensure that the money meant for the people reaches to them and infrastructure is created for the welfare of the people under MGNREGA.

He reiterated the Government’s commitment to the sustainable development of rural areas of the State and added that various measures are afoot to support these rural belts by creating long lasting physical and social infrastructure to ensure equitable development.

          While reviewing the physical progress on various developmental works in the district, he stressed on the execution of culverts/roads connecting schools on priority, so that the school going children may not face difficulties.  

          He also stressed on the execution of paths with concrete pavers to make them weather resistant and ideal for the village topography. The Minister further directed the officers to ensure adoption of proper designs for execution of big projects especially for culverts and bridges to make the projects sustainable and cost effective.

          MLC Firdous Tak also spoke on the occasion and stressed on the officials to make people part of the governance by holding Gram Sabhas to ensure their participation in decision making.