'Ukhrul better than others in MGNREGS implementation'
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, November 02 2012: In comparison to other districts of Manipur, Ukhrul recorded relatively more success stories of MGNREGS but the participation of women as supervisory role is said to be very negligible.

This was stated by AC Ningshimi, Project Officer, DRDA, Ukhrul, while addressing the second day of Bharat Nirman Campaign at Ukhrul today.

She said the work progress under MGNREGS in the district is much better than other districts of the State despite some discrepancies in the implementation of the national flagship programme.

She also stated there is higher presence of women in the actual work and worksite under MGNREGS but admitted that their role in monitoring and supervisory stage is very negligible.

Of the total 44048 job cards issued in the district, it is informed that 42 percent are women beneficiaries.

It is also reported that another 8663 have applied for inclusion in beneficiary list.

It may be mentioned that Ukhrul district is included the third phase of MGNREGS implemented on April 1, 2008 along with the others left out in the earlier programme.

Lamenting that the work implementation in the district is always delayed, she admited procedural delay in getting approval from relevant authority.

In fact, she said the work for every financial year should begin by April 1 but it is not so in Ukhrul.

Ningshimi also admitted that there are discrepancies in the implementation of MGNREGS in Ukhrul.

Informing that the guidelines like mandatory bank account of beneficiaries and facilities for mothers at work site are yet to be realised.

She added that there are instances of excess beneficiaries in some villages and inability to complete the 100 days work in certain years.

On IAY implementation, the rural housing policy is said to provide remarkable benefits to the people of Ukhrul District.

More than 10,000 homeless families in the District have been provided house since the beginning of IAY in the country, stated Project Officer of DRDA Ukhrul AC Ningshimi in her topical presentation on Rural Housing at the Campaign.

The Project Officer while elaborating on the implementation of IAY in Ukhrul District said that there are two types of IAY.

The first is to provide assistance for new construction whereas the second is to provide assistance in the upgradation work.

Apart from the empirical implementation of IAY in the District, she also vividly highlighted the features which include 5 percent reservation for natural calamities and 3 percent for differently abled persons.

Meanwhile, there is fear that Ukhrul town may face shortage of water in Ukhrul district in future considering the drastic reduction of water production volume at the Shirui hills and the absence of alternative means so far.

This was stated by V Shangreiphao, SE, Rural Circle No 11 during the campaign.

Unless certain measures are taken up to preserve and boost the water sources at Shirui hills, the hilly town may face a serious drought, said Shangreiphao.

However, he stated that there are proposals for implementation of catchment area protection programme to preserve the water sources, while adding it already has the Cabinet approval.

Total Sanitation campaign in Ukhrul district is going to take a leap forward in the coming year with an earmark of Rs.164 lacs for construction of 4123 low cost latrine in the pipeline.

Speaking as Resource person on Total sanitation campaign V Shangreiphao, Superintendent Engineer, Rural Circle No 11, PHED Manipur said that considering the need of implementing the campaign intensively in the District, Communication Capacity Development Unit (CCDU) Manipur has accorded a plan to sanction Rs.164 for construction of 4123 low cost latrine in the District.

The plan is made to cope up the issues of lack of proper toilets in the District.

Construction of low cost latrine is just a part of the Total Sanitation Campaign, remarked the resource person.

Shirui hills, a hotspot of biodiversity in the Ukhrul district of Manipur, is under serious threats with depleting forest cover and wildlife fast disappearing over the years.

In his topical presentation on "Forest Development" in the afternoon session of the Bharat Nirman Campaign, Lovejoy Rumthao, Range Officer, Forest Department, Ukhrul, said the Shirui hills is under serious threats with recurrent forest fire and wanton feeling of trees.

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