State achievements in NREGA, DDU-GKY highlighted to Narendra Singh Tomar
Source: The Sangai Express / DIPR

Imphal, April 29 2020: Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Minister Thongam Biswajit Singh today expressed gratitude to the Ministry of Rural Development, Panchayati Raj for their timely release of funds under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme.

The Minister, who is also the Government spokesperson, expressed his gratitude during a video conferencing with the Union Minister of Rural Development, Panchayati Raj and Agriculture & Farming Welfare, Narendra Singh Tomar today.

Highlighting that under the guidance of the Prime Minister and the able leadership of the Chief Minister N Biren Singh, Manipur has been able to be a COVID-free State, he said that there is a free flow of movement and transportation of commodities by following Government issued guidelines in the State.

While showing gratitude to the Central Ministry for clearing MGNREGS liabilities and early release of funds, the Minister said that implementation of MGNREGS has already resumed in all districts of the State by strictly abiding by the Central Government's instruction and protocol including maintenance of social distancing at work-sites.

He said that the State has achieved much in MGNREGS implementation, and added that in 2018-19, the State could achieve 100 Person Days, 160 PD in 2019-20 and is targeting 400 PD in 2021-22.Regarding PMAY(G) implementation, Biswajit highlighted that the Ministry has already approved 8900 units for 2019-20 and 15842 units for 2020-21 for the State.

He urged the Union Minister to release the first installation of funds for the scheme so that the State could commence work at the earliest.

He also expressed that the registration process for the units under PMAY(G) has already been completed in the State.

He added that as compared to other bigger States, the number of units approved for the State is very less and if the Ministry can release the entire fund at one go, the State is confident of completing the scheme at the earliest.

This could be a big achievement for the Government, he added.

Biswajit also highlighted that under the Manipur State Rural Livelihood Mission, the State has initiated 80 works in 150 Gram Panchayats covering 284 villages by forming 1973 Self Help Groups (SHG) .

The total number of household covered under the scheme in the State is 22,769 .

He further apprised the Union Minister that during the present COVID issue, these SHGs have helped by making masks and selling them to Government offices and the public.

The State RD&PR Minister also informed the Union Minister that implementation of the Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana is also going on smoothly.

He said the target is to provide training to 10,262 youths.

Under the scheme, 2,221 youths have already been trained in various trades out of which 1347 job placements have also been achieved so far under the scheme.

During the video conference, the Minister was assisted by Additional Chief Secretary MH Khan and officials of the RD&PR.

The video conference was held along with concerned Ministers of Gao, Manipur, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Sikkim, Tripura, Uttarkhand, Andaman and Nicobar, Dadar Nagar Havelli and Daman and Diu, Lakshwadeep and Puducherry.

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