Srinagar (NVI): To kick-start the rural economy in Jammu and Kashmir amid the ongoing lockdown, Advisor to J&K Lieutenant Governor, Baseer Ahmad Khan today directed the Deputy Commissioners (DCs) in the Union Territory to resume MGNREGA works while following Standard Operation Procedures (SOPs) issued by the Centre regarding Covid-19.
Khan said that the resumption of various works under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) will also provide monetary relief to scores of daily wage workers.
An official statement issued here said that the Advisor issued these directions during a meeting held with Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Pandurang K Pole, Secretary Rural Development Department Sheetal Nanda and Deputy Commissioners of J&K here through video conferencing.
“During the meeting, Advisor Khan said that purpose of starting these works is to provide a monetary relief to scores of daily wage workers whose livelihood entirely depends on the income generated through MGNREGA,” the official statement said, adding that the Advisor directed the officials that all the works shall be carried out while strictly following the standard operating procedures (SoP) especially maintaining social distance and hand-sanitization.
The official statement said that Advisor Khan said that as notified earlier the selective works which include irrigation and water conservation projects would be taken up in the initial phase.
“During the meeting, the DCs were directed to instruct the Chief Medical Officers (CMO) in their respective districts to constitute various teams for random sampling and check-up of the laborers in their districts. The teams would check if the laborers are fit to work and are free from COVID-19 infection,” the official statement said.
It said that the Directors of Rural Development Department (RDD) Kashmir and Jammu were instructed to monitor all the MGNREGA works and submit the progress report of works accordingly to the Secretary RDD after 15- days.
Besides, the Directors will also ensure that that there is no delay in the release of wages of daily-wage laborers, besides disbursement of other payments shall also be done as per prescribed mode.
“The Advisor informed the meeting that with regard to Pradhan Mantri Gramin Awaas Yojana (PMAY), he had a meeting with the Union Minister recently after which the Union Territory of J&K was granted an additional quota of 75,000 houses for the people enlisted in socio-economic caste census (SECC). He said the allotment is in addition to already allotted number of 90,000. He directed the DCs to get Assistant Commissioners Development (ACD) to collect the latest information regarding the beneficiaries at an earliest so that the same could be forwarded to Union Government,” the statement said.
It said that the Advisor warned of taking strict action against the officials found slow in submitting the list.
