The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Separate Directorate for NREGS

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Tuesday, Feb 12, 2008
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Separate Directorate for NREGS

Nagesh Prabhu

It is to speed up the job scheme in some districts

BANGALORE: The Government has decided to set up a separate Directorate for National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS) for expeditious implementation of the scheme in the State.

The execution of the Union Government’s ambitious scheme has been slow in some of the districts owing to shortage of staff, lack of awareness about the scheme among the rural masses and low wages (Rs. 74 a day). Frequent transfer of the State-level NREGA director (four directors since the launch of the scheme) has also impeded the progress of the scheme.

A high-level meeting convened by Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Department Principal Secretary K. Jairaj on Monday decided to establish the separate Directorate for NREGS in the State. The Rural Development and Panchayat Raj (RDPR) Department has been implementing the scheme since its inception in February 2006.

Officials of the RDPR Department told The Hindu on Monday that the directorate would be established soon on the lines of the NREGS Directorate in Andhra Pradesh.

Objective

In the first phase, the scheme was kicked off in Bidar, Gulbagra, Raichur, Davangere and Chitradurga districts in 2006. 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.

No momentum

In the second phase, the scheme was launched in April 2007, in districts where farmers are under distress, such as Belgaum, Chikmagalur, Hassan, Kodagu, Shimoga and Bellary.

It was yet to pick up momentum in these districts due to shortage of staff. Except Bellary, all other districts are under the Rs. 2,689-crore Prime Minister’s relief package for farmers. The scheme would cover all districts from April 2008.

Mr. Jairaj, who took stock of the various issues that are impeding the execution of the scheme in 11 districts, has also decided to provide wide publicity through advertisements in the media, distribution of pamphlets, talk shows, audio-video films and street plays in rural areas.

A committee has been set up to chalk out a plan Information, Education and Communication (IEC) programmes across various districts. M.G. Shivalingaiah, Joint Directorate, State NREGS, is the convenor of the panel.

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