Sambalpur: The Centre-sponsored Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) has again come in handy for the migrant returnees and local labourers in this district as the administration plans to create 75 lakh work days amid the second wave of the pandemic, a report said.
As part of its efforts, the district administration has approved 12,000 projects and sanctioned Rs 284 crore for the purpose. Works on various projects have started in almost all blocks with plans to involve more than 1 lakh families in the rural job scheme.
Sources said the central scheme was extensively used last year to provide temporary jobs to scores of migrant returnees and local labourers who lost their livelihood during the Covid-induced lockdown last year.
The district administration involved women self-help groups, youths and people in the implementation of the projects and was able to provide livelihood to returnees and local workers last year.
Taking a leaf from its success, the district administration has decided to implement the job scheme this year too to alleviate the sufferings of returnees following the spread of the second wave of the pandemic.
The district administration had set a target of 50 lakh work days last year while in current fiscal, it has decided to create 75 lakh work days, an additional 25 lakh work days during the implementation of the scheme.
This has been done anticipating higher work demand due to influx of migrants. Sobhit Bisi, district coordinator of MGNREGS said it has been decided to create more work days for proper implementation of the scheme.
The works include excavation, renovation of ponds, construction of farm ponds, canals for irrigation, deep bore wells, digging of trenches for rainwater conservation and construction of gram panchayat buildings.
Last year, it achieved 93 per cent success as it helped scores of returnees and poor people earn their living. It was alleged that workers had declined to work in March due to delay in payment.
However, they have now joined the work after their dues were cleared. According to reports, 21,329 workers were engaged in various projects, Thursday. The scheme has achieved only 44 per cent of the target in May.
Reports said 353, 492 work days have been created from April 1 to May 20. It is doubted whether the district administration will achieve hundred per cent of the target in May with only 10 days left for the month to end.
PNN
