Kerala - Kochi   

Periyar protection under NREGP

KOCHI: The district administration is planning to implement a scheme for the protection of the Periyar river by utilising the workforce available under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Programme (NREGP).

Talking to The Hindu, District Collector A.P.M. Mohammed Hanish said the thrust would be on river and canal protection. The irrigation canal systems in the district would be rejuvenated. “The existing canals across the district, which are in disrepair and remain unused, will be made usable,” he said.

Road works would not be allowed under the scheme, as the focus is on more labour-intensive works. “However, laying earthen paths in remote and inaccessible regions would be permitted,” he said.

The scheme, which guarantees 100 days of employment to every rural household in a financial year, was launched in the district on Tuesday, when it was extended to all the 604 districts of the country.

The Collector said the focus would be on enlisting women, as the minimum wage of Rs.125 was not lucrative for male labourers in the district who can earn anything between Rs.250 and Rs.300.

Channelling their energy towards constructive works and earning Rs.125 a day would be an attractive proposition for women, he said. The fact that men and women are paid the same wage under the scheme would also help.

Asked about the possibility of seeking a better wage structure in the district, which is largely urbanised, the Collector said there was no probability for any such change as was made clear during a national seminar on the scheme.

It is a Central government scheme and as such uniform wage is implemented across the country, he said.

Joseph Abraham, Project Director of Poverty Alleviation Unit, said so far there have been 62,000 registrations under the scheme.

The Manjapra grama panchayat and Angamaly block panchayat have accounted for maximum registrations.

He said it would take two to three weeks for the scheme to take off in the district, as till last month, officials were busy with the financial year-ending work.

Akshaya centres have already been directed to take photographs of job applicants approaching them, he said. Applicants need to produce five passport size copies. Data collection is on for issuing job cards to those who have registered their names, he said.

He said talks had been held with banks for opening zero balance accounts for the workers, as under the scheme payments would be through banks.

Asked about the formation of social audit teams for transparent and corruption-free implementation of the scheme, he said it came only in the later stages after the work was under way.

Realising its importance, the district panchayat had allocated Rs.4 crore for the scheme in its budget for 2008-09.

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