Source: The Sangai Express / Addie Chiphang
Ukhrul, October 28 2009:
The All-Tribal Chiefs' Association Manipur (ATCAM) comprising of all the chiefs of tribal areas of Manipur has expressed satisfaction on the implementation of National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS) in the rural areas.
In a press handout made available here, president of ATCAM Ashang Siro stated that NREGS schemes in Saikul under Senapati and Phungyar block of Ukhrul district has remarkably improved living condition and is giving equal benefit in every aspect of rural life.
The ATCAM statement further maintained that the touring undertaken by the association functionaries in Saikul and Phungyar blocks recently found out that most of the rural poor families had been equally benefited in many ways since the introduction of NREGS in these areas.
In the past a number of government schemes were launched but never reached the targeted people, the Association pointed out while adding that after the introduction of the flagship programme of the UPA Government such as the NREGS there is visible improvement in many sectors including repairing of old roads and most of the inter village link roads motorable at present apart from many of the financial problems of the rural people reduced significantly.
Mentioning that NREGS has been implemented in a highly efficient and transparent manner in both the blocks, it said wages are also paid in time and that 100 days job guarantee granted to the areas have been successfully provided in 2008-09 .
It is very commendable on the part of officials of Ukhrul and Senapati districts for carrying out this program with success, the Association president added.
The statement further eulogised that an idea can never remain constant but will always evolve into new and better innovations.
The poverty-alleviation programme of NREGS will evolve with time into better and novel means to root out poverty from our society, it said and conveyed of another novel insurance scheme with micro-insurance cover with a crucial component of micro-saving of all the NREGS job card holders launched in Saikul areas.
Moreover, under a project NREGS workers will get insurance cover including accident, disability and death benefit, and the vicious cycle of poverty could be addressed through natural progression of a poverty-alleviation programme like the NREGS, the statement add.