| Govts efforts to develop rural, far off areas:Sagar | | House passes grants of Rural Dev Deptt | | et plus report
JAMMU, Mar 13: Enumerating several steps taken for ensuring proper implementation and adequate utilization of funds under various rural development schemes, Minister for Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, Mr. Ali Mohammad Sagar said that it is the endeavour of the Government to work for ensuring proper and sustained development of the rural and far-flung areas besides keeping ecological concerns, like sanitation, soil erosion, water scarcity in consideration.
Replying to the discussion on demand of grants for the Departments under charge, the Minister said besides empowering panchayats with powers of 14 vital departments. The Government has decided to give honorarium to Sarpanches and Panches to strengthen Panchayati Raj in the State.
He said that in order to broaden the ambit of the Panchayati Raj Act, the amendments proposed by different quarters have been considered and the provision of giving representation to the under privileged classes and women has also been explored. The Minister said Panchayat Adalats have been notified by the concerned designated authority and IMPA has been asked to prepare a training module for their capacity building so that various disputes at village level can be settled within the community. He said that directorates of social audits have been created and during current financial year, 1582 audits in 1271 panchayats have been conducted.
Under 13th Finance Commission, the Minister said, the construction of 1788 Panchayat Ghars has been taken in hand for augmentation of rural infrastructure.
He said that a grant in aid amount of Rs. 72.24 crore has been released to panchayats for asset creation, furniture fixture and rent.
He said steps are being taken to provide group life insurance cover to the panchayat representatives and during current financial year, new schemes of E-panchayats and RGPSA have been launched.
Sagar while referring to the transparency and accountability in the department said that action has been initiated against officers/officials found deviating from their duties and presently 52 gazetted and 51 non-gazetted officers have been charge sheeted. He said that a grievance redressal cell has been established to get the requisite feedback from different quarters about the implementation of various schemes and also complaints if any.
Referring to the flagship programme of MGNREGA, the Minister said that the scope of activities of the schemes has been widened by convergence of the same with other departments and also by including sanitation and livelihood activities.
He said state employment guarantee fund has been created under the scheme and the wage rate has been enhanced to Rs. 145 per day from April 2013. Similarly, under supporting staff 823 technical assistants, 1509 GRS and 249 operators have been engaged besides other engagements are in pipeline.
Under IAY the assistance is being enhanced from Rs. 48,500- to Rs. 75,000/ from next financial year and on line monitoring of the scheme is being done, the Minister said. He said under IWMP a perspective plan of Rs. 2300 crore stands approved and 84 projects of Rs. 524.85 crore stands sanctioned.
Sagar said that under BRGF and RGSY capacity building extensive trainings are provided to the Panchayat representatives as per national capacity building frame work and during the current financial year, an amount of Rs. 11.85 crore has been earmarked for the same. He said livelihood scheme of NRLM under the nomenclature of UMEED has been launched in four blocks on pilot basis.
Earlier, Mr. Sagar moved that a sum of Rs. 614.96 crore be granted to the Government to defray the charges which will come in the course of payment during the year ending March 31, 2014.
In all 19 members took part in the discussion which included Mohammad Sharief Niaz, Jugal Kishore, Dr. Mustafa Kamal, Hakeem Mohammad Yasin, Haresh Dev Singh, Durga Dass, Bimla Luthra, Ch. Sukhnandan Kumar, Aijaz Ahmed Jan, Bharat Bushan, T. Namgyal, Er. Rashid, G.M. Saroori, Javed Ahmed Dar, Ashwani Sharma, Haji Mohammad Ashraf, . Ashok Kumar and Balwant Singh Mankotia.
Later, the members withdrew the amendments they had moved after the satisfactory reply by the Minister. The House, later, passed the grants by a voice vote. |
|
