Press Release Panchayat and Rural Development, Assam

Wage based employment under MGNREGA

to the migrant workers and other unemployed rural people of the state

Job card within seven days Minister Doley asks willing persons to apply in their respective GPs Guwahati 18 May: Assam government has initiated special steps to provide wage based employment to the migrant workers and also other interested people of the state who has returned home due to the present crisis situation of COVID-19. Panchayat and Rural Development (P&RD) minister Naba Kr Doley said today during an interview with media persons. He also urged all such people to apply for job card. He also informed that the willing persons would be provided job card within seven days and they would get work once asked for. Referring to the enhancement of budget from 61 thousand crores to 101 thousand crores in the current year for MGNREGA under special economic and comprehensive package for Self Reliant India Movement, minister Doley said that Assam had already been allotted 6,50 crore person days during the current financial year. Now with the enhanced budget, it will not be difficult to fulfil the demand for work. Therefore, the needy persons should come forward to get financial relief @ Rs 213 per day by working under MGNREGA. It may be mentioned here that the P & RD department has planned to prepare a Gaon Panchayat wise list of migrant workers as well as the persons returning home from various places of the state. The information relating to their previous engagement will also be included in the list so that they might be employed as per their field of expertise. Minister Doley also stated that they will be trained if needed. He also informed that the workers experienced in construction works will be engaged in the construction of PMAY-G houses and in the schemes of 14th Finance Commission. Thus, the crisis of mason will be addressed in case of construction of PMAY-G houses and at the same time employment will also be generated. Here it may also be noted that after relaxation of Lock Down imposed to fight against COVID-19, 6,261 job cards are issued covering 26,891 persons. On the other hand, it is also instructed to keep a plenty of sanctioned schemes under every GP and block to meet the demand for work.

Mentioning about the letter to chief minister written by MLA Padma Hazarika requesting to generate employment for the migrant workers under MGNREGA, minister Doley urged that every MLA and the Panchayat representative should be concerned about this issue and inspire the people of their respective areas to come forward to work under MGNREGA.

It is worth mentioning that Minister Doley is visiting the districts with the senior officials of the department to review the progress of the rural development schemes and thus to boost the work field officials and motivate them for expeditious and fruitful implementation of the schemes. He has already visited Dhemaji, Lakhimpur, Majuli, Nagaon, Barpeta, Hojai and Darrang districts.

He also stresses upon timely payment of the wages to encourage the people to come forward to work. He mentioned that the department is very much concerned about timely payment of wage and now 99 % workers are provided wage in their account through DBT and during relaxation period of Lock Down, wage amounting to Rs. 28.40 crores have been released. Minister Doley informed about his instruction to complete job card verification within seven days and the verification of accounts of the job card holders within 1o days to maintain transparency.

During relaxation period 3.67 lakhs household are provided work and 12.38 lakhs person days are generated. Minister Doley also emphasised on taking individual beneficiary schemes (IBS) for sustainable livelihood of the vulnerable section of rural people.

He also reiterated his stand of zero tolerance in case of any negligence, discrepancy and misappropriation of fund in implementation of the schemes for rural poor people and expressed his hope of extending discernible contribution towards fulfilment of Self Reliant India Movement with the help of all sections of people.

MRD/18-05-2020