NE MPs: Strengthen vigilance, monitoring committees
Source: Hueiyen News Service / Manipur Information Centre

New Delhi, June 08 2011: Members of Parliament from North Eastern States including three MPs from Manipur Rishang Keishing, Dr.Th Meinya and Thangso Baite demanded strengthening of the Vigilance and Monitoring Committee (VMC)s, which conduct social audit on the implementation of NREGA in the districts, with powers to the local MPs so that they could play an effective role in the implementation, monitoring and vigilance of the flagship programmes related to rural roads, employment, drinking water, sanitation and housing.

An all party delegation of MPs from NE states met with Union Minister of Rural Development Vilasrao Deshmukh at Krishi Bhawan here today to discuss the progress of implementation of flagship programmes.

Deshmukh shared the views of the elected representatives regarding the rural employment, rural roads, rural housing and rural drinking water in the region and assured all possible help from the centre.

The MPs said that it was high time the Government relax some of the norms or the criteria related to the allocation of grants for the NE states in view of their unique geography, topology and the requirements of the hilly terrain.

The meeting lasted for over two hours.

The MPs labelled the existing VMCs in the district as toothless tigers and said there was an urgent need to overhaul the system.

The Minister agreed and said that it was high time MPs be given their due place in the smooth and effective running of flagship programs.

PMGSY figured prominently in the discussions wherein the MPs raised the demands to not to link the rural road construction with the population, ensuring the quality and maintenance of roads, MPs to be consulted in project implementation, permission to allow the construction of bridges up to a span of 100 metres in place of 50 mtrs with full funding by the centre.

Deshmukh told the MPs that the ministry will not lag behind in its commitments.

Some MPs lamented the poor progress under Mahatma Gandhi NREGA in the region and called upon the need to release wages for 50 days in first tranche.

Another demand wanted relaxation of the 60:40 norm under MGNREGA.

Secretary Rural Development said the norms were as per the provisions of the act and the district is the implementing authority.

A few of the MPs demanded that funding under Indira Awas Yojana for construction and or upgradation of houses for the BPL in NE states needed to be augmented from the existing ceiling of ' 48,500 and indigenous material should be allowed to be used for construction purposes.

Deshmukh said these issues were being looked into so as to streamline the process so that the benefits of inclusive growth be reached out to the needy and the poor in time.

Issues related to drinking water supply and sanitation also figured during the discussions.

Union Minister of Sate for Rural Development Agatha Sangma was present on the occasion The MPs included Sansuma Khunggur Bwismuthiary, Dr Thokchom Meinya, CL Ruala , Reishang Keishing, Biswajit Daimary, Thangso Baite, Mukut Mithi, PS Ghatobar, LM Sukulbaidya, Khekiho Zhimomi and C.M.Chang among others.

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