Post News Network
Bhubaneswar, Nov 28: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik Saturday strictly instructed project directors of the district rural development agencies (DRDA) and block development officers (BDO) to ensure 100 per cent utilisation of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) funds.
“It is a matter of great concern that in this financial year many districts with potential are lagging behind in MGNREGS. I would like the officers of these districts to put in their best efforts to improve their performance. The targets, in terms of person days and expenditure, will have to be achieved without fail. Underachievement will not be tolerated,” CM told the officers while addressing a conference here.
In Orissa, on an average 17 lakh rural households seek employment under MGNREGS annually. In the last couple of years, MGNREGS has contributed to increased rural wages and empowerment of the marginalised sections across the state, he said.
The state government would institute awards for three districts performing the best in MGNREGS implementation with financial incentives, the CM announced.
“The state government is committed to provide pucca houses to all households having kucha houses within four years. All rural households should be sensitised about this commitment,” Patnaik told the officials.
The CM said this year’s target for completion of Biju Pucca Ghar Yojana (BPGY) houses is seven lakh and that about four lakh houses have already been constructed so far. He asked the officers to ensure completion of at least 75,000 houses per month during the next four months.
Patnaik further added that the PDs and the BDOs should ensure that each beneficiary, after completion of the houses, should be awarded with an incentive in the next four to six months as per the guidelines. He emphasised proper utilisation of the Fourteenth Finance Commission and fourth State Finance Commission grants to convert all gram panchayats into model gram panchayats.
During the inaugural session of the two-day conference, the CM launched ‘Ama Gaon Ama Yojana,’ a new initiative on development of gram panchayats, and released the revised guidelines of BPGY. He also presented awards to the best performing districts and blocks.
Panchayati Raj minister Arun Kumar Sahoo, department secretary DK Singh and other senior officials of the department were present at the conference.