Karnataka - Bidar   

Over 73,000 people register under job scheme in Bidar

Staff Correspondent

66,254 people have been issued job cards and 36,000 given jobs

Bidar: The National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme seems to be slowly making an impact on rural life in Bidar district. The success of the programme can be gauged by the popularity it has achieved in just over two months. As many as 73,770 people have registered themselves as eligible workers. Each of them has a Savings Bank account in a post office or at the District Central Cooperative Bank or a commercial bank. Job cards have been issued to 66,254 people. Of them, 37,304 have applied seeking employment under the programme.

The gram panchayats, which are the implementing authorities, have given jobs to 36,000 people.

The Government has taken up 1,100 works worth Rs. 12 crore in the district. Of these, 300 have been completed. Over 75 per cent of them are soil and water conservation works. An additional 1,000 works will be taken up soon, Deputy Commissioner and Zilla Panchayat Chief Executive Officer Munish Moudgil told The Hindu.

The Government is spending Rs. 1 crore a month in the district to provide employment to the jobless. In April, the expenditure under the scheme crossed Rs. 1.35 crore.

The 175 gram panchayats in the five taluks in the district have held 405 gram sabhas to select works to be taken up in the villages. The gram sabhas have also motivated people to register under the programme. Then, the panchayats asked each of the 27 government departments to come up with proposals and estimates.

In many cases, panchayat members have monitored work, according to Mr. Moudgil. "In some places, officials found that some villagers were in the belief that they will be paid wages without having to do any work. We are trying to change this perception by organising awareness camps," he said.

A survey in Hamilpur, Kamthana, Mannaekhalli and Rajola villages on Friday showed that a considerable number of people were participating in the programme.

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Over 73,000 people register under job scheme in Bidar

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