Himachal Pradesh govt allows unemployed rural persons to work under MNREGA

SHIMLA: Himachal Pradesh chief minister Jai Ram Thakur said that state government has allowed the unemployed rural persons willing to work in their individual land under MNREGA, even if the work was not in the shelf of projects approved by gram sabhas.
While presiding over the review meeting of rural development and panchayati raj department on Saturday, he said that total expenditure of Rs 859 crore have been incurred thereby generating 260 lakh person days during last financial year whereas Rs 54 crore have been spent and 22 lakh person days were generated under MNREGA during current financial year so far.
Jai Ram Thakur said that Rural Development Department has also issued instructions regarding maintenance of PWD roads under MNREGA besides tranches of Jal Shakti Vibhag. He said that in order to ensure transparency in the works of MNREGA, the department has implemented SECURE software. He said that 100 percent payments regarding works under MNREGA has been implemented through DBT.
He said that for work site facilities homemade protective face cover, soap and water were being provided to MNREGA workers. He said that 12835 MNREGA workers registered with Buildings and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board had completed 90 days.
He said that department has created a Quality Control Cell under MNREGA in order to improve the quality of works executed under the scheme. He said that Ombudsman have been appointed in six districts namely Bilaspur, Hamirpur, Kangra, Mandi, Shimla and Solan, while the remaining Ombudsman would be appointed soon.
He said that under the Mukhya Mantri Awas Yojna 610 houses have been constructed during last financial year and target has been fixed to construct 998 houses during the current financial year to facilitate poor people. He said that in order to improve quality of houses to be constructed under various housing schemes, the department was also planning to impart rural mason training to the interested persons.
Jai Ram Thakur said that the State Government has launched Mukhya Mantri One Bigha Scheme recently by convergence between National Rural Livelihood Mission and MNREGA. He said that over 2000 Self Help Groups of women have applied under this scheme till date. He said that government was laying special focus on skilling and placement in the formal sector for rural poor above the minimum wages. He said that under the Project UNNATI target has been fixed to train youth in various new trades such as Fashion Designing, Assistant Hair Stylist, Multi Skill Technician, Dairy Processing Equipments etc.
He said that as a special initiative by the State Government under the Swachh Bharat Mission-Gramin, Rs 23.70 crore have been released to the Jal Shakti Vibhag for establishment of Sewerage Treatment Plants on pilot basis in Thunag, Dharampur and Janjehli in Mandi district and Bangana in Una district. He said that the projects of wayside amenities have been sanctioned in four districts viz. Shimla, Solan, Sirmaur and Una for Rs one crore each.