ITANAGAR, May 5: A central team comprising of Joint Secretary MGNREGA, Aparajita Sarangi and Director MGNREGA, Gaya Prasad called on Chief Minister Pema Khandu today.

In the half hour meeting, the visiting team which has been on a monitoring tour of MGNREGA works being executed on the field, highlighted on their observations from their visit to Lower Subansiri district.

Informing that currently only three types of work – drainage, roads and flood protection were being executed on the ground, the Joint Secretary emphasized on the need to diversify the works. She urged on the need for orientation and awareness programme for the rural people to give them scope to diversify their works. She, however, drew satisfaction that the people had high level of awareness on MGNREGA scheme.

Informing the CM that the Centre is keen to provide more funds under MGNREGA, the Joint Secretary emphasized to expedite the process to enable the state to receive full grants. She informed that about 7000 MGNREGA works in Arunachal are incomplete since the scheme started in 2006. She urged the state government to submit utilization certificate (UC) for these works so that the Centre may release more funds. ‘Due to lack of UCs being submitted to the centre, the state is unable to absorb funds,’ she observed.

Sarangi also emphasized for geo-tagging of assets created under MGNREGA scheme informing that PM is personally monitoring these works.

For successful implementation of MGNREGA in the state, the Joint Secretary suggested for a full-time secretary or commissioner level officer to work on it as it is a huge department. She also emphasised on training programmes for officers and staff of the department. ‘These measures when taken will equip the department for monitoring works,’ she said and suggested certain measures while coming up with 15-point suggestion for the Rural Department for quality work.

The Chief Minister directed the department to immediately work on submission of UCs for all the pending works.  He also asked them to set a target for geo-tagging of MGNREGA assets. RD Minister Alo Libang informed the visiting central team that the state government is working to improve the system and make it more efficient.

The meeting was attended by RD & PR Parliamentary Secretary Mama Natung and Secretary RD Dani Salu.

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Kenter Joya Riba

(Managing Editor)
      She is a graduate in Science with post graduation in Sociology from University of Pune. She has been in the media industry for nearly a decade. Before turning to print business, she has been associated with radio and television.
Email: kenterjoyaz@easternsentinel.in / editoreasternsentinel@gmail.com
Phone: 0360-2212313

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