Karnataka - Bangalore   

Give publicity to job scheme, says Governor

Governor Rameshwar Thakur

BANGALORE: The implementation of the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS) in a few districts of the State has been rather slow. Governor Rameshwar Thakur, on Tuesday, instructed the officials of the Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Department to launch a massive publicity campaign on the scheme in the next three months for its effective implementation in villages.

Mr. Thakur held a review meeting with senior officials of the Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Department and told them to take necessary steps to expedite the execution of the scheme for the benefit of the unemployed rural poor.

The centrally-sponsored job scheme was yet to pick up momentum in six districts such as Belgaum, Chikmagalur, Hassan, Kodagu, Shimoga and Bellary.

While the first phase of the NREGA was launched in February 2006 in Bidar, Gulbagra, Raichur, Davangere and Chitradurga districts, the second phase was kicked off in April 2007 in Belgaum, Chikmagalur, Hassan, Kodagu, Shimoga and Bellary.

The officials told presspersons that the Governor had instructed the department officials to launch the publicity campaign on the scheme in January, February and March 2008, to ensure that the benefits of the scheme reach the rural poor.

According to official data, the Government’s record in the implementation of the scheme has been slow in the past seven months in the six districts.

The scheme was being implemented in all gram panchayats in all districts. The main objective of the scheme is enhancement of livelihood security of households in rural areas, by providing at least 100 days of guaranteed wage employment in every financial year to every household whose adult members volunteer for unskilled manual work.

Mr. Thakur monitored the progress of the rural road works and told the officials not to compromise on quality of roads in villages. In order to create increased awareness about the job scheme and other rural development schemes, Mr. Thakur suggested that the department hold a training programme for elected members of local bodies also.

Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Principal Secretary K. Jairaj and State NREGS Director B.N. Krishnaiah and other officials made a presentation to the Governor on various ongoing rural development schemes.

Since the National Development Council meeting is to be held in New Delhi on December 19, Laxmi Venkatachalam, principal secretary, Planning Department, and Meenakshi Sundaram, deputy chairman, Planning Board, briefed the Governor on issues to be presented at the meeting, official sources said.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

And the game continues…
‘Absence of screening facility is still a concern’
Yoga treatment camp
Smart card mooted for industries
Central study team
‘Move beyond pickle-and-papad mindset’
Give publicity to job scheme, says Governor
A mother’s agony continues
Strand Book Festival
Conference on ‘Psychology and cinema’ from December 14
Next generation of web technology
MetroPlus Lifestyle Show from tomorrow
Seven police officers suspended
Lack of safety still a problem for women employees

Copyright © 2007, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu