50 More Days of NREGA Work for Drought Hit
BHUBANESWAR:The State Government on Saturday decided to provide 200 days of work under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) in drought hit areas to prevent migration of people.
A decision to this effect was taken at a meeting presided by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik at the Secretariat. It comes two days after the Centre announced 150 days of work under MGNREGA in drought hit areas across the country. In normal condition, a person gets 100 days of work per annum under the scheme.
Minister of State for Panchayatiraj Arun Kumar Sahu said the State Government will bear the additional expenditure to be incurred for extension of 150 days’ work to 200 days.
The work under the MGNREGA is generally provided through agriculture, forest, panchatayi raj and water resources departments, he said, adding that jobs will also be provided for construction of Biju Pucca Ghar Yojana (BPGY) and Indira Awas Yojana (IAY), check dams, cross dams, canal embankments, roadside plantation and schools.
The Minister said 2.26 crore mandays have been utilised so far and the State Government has estimated that it will provide 7.6 crore mandays during the current financial year.
The Chief Minister has asked the administration to give priority to women, people belonging to SC and ST communities while selecting beneficiaries for additional 50 days’ work, he said.
The additional days would be utilised in works under BPGY, IAY, rural livelihood mission, soil conservation and construction of anganwadi houses. From 2011-12 to 2015-16 (August), 9,700 check dams have been constructed under the MGNREGA.
As many as 103 of the State’s 314 blocks have recorded scanty rainfall affecting agricultural activities. This apart, eight districts of Dhenkanal, Khurda, Balangir, Boudh, Bargarh, Sambalpur, Kandhamal and Keonjhar have registered less than normal rainfall this monsoon.
DAMAGE CONTROL
- Decision taken to prevent migration of people
- It comes two days after the Centre announced 150 days of work under MGNREGA in drought hit areas across the country
- In normal condition, a person gets 100 days of work per annum under the scheme