Nirman campaign notes welfare programmes
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, January 30 2013: On the second day of deliberation on Bharat Nirman campaign held today at the Mini Secretariat hall of Thoubal DC complex various speakers, including Department officials highlighted scheme works executed at State and districts, presented reports on ongoing works as well as updated the gathering on upcoming welfare programme.

In the morning session Manipur State Minorities Commission secretary Dr Md Rahejuddin Sheikh speaking on Prime Minister's 15 point programme, said the national project was launched to strengthen unity and integrity of the country.

While noting that had been envisaged by the programme are fulfilled and India is moving forward, he, however, opined that more need to be done to make India one of the most developed nations in the world.

Expressing that ICDS is a fall out of the ambitious national project under which children below six years of age are taken care of by giving better and nutritious foods at the anganwadi centres, Dr Sheikh conveyed that Minority commission was set up to look after minority communities in the country.

Earlier welcoming the gathering MCO PIB Imphal Premlata Loitam said Bharat Nirman campaign is carried out across the nation to make the general public aware of the flagship programmes launched by the Government of India.

Where India stands as of now can be known through this campaign, she affirmed.

In his address Block Development Officer, Kakching CD Block Angam Karuang Kom said that the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) can improve the standard of living of the poor people in the rural areas thereby improving the economy of the nation.

speaking as a resource person on the penultimate day of the Nirman's Public Information Campaign being held under the aegis of PIB Imphal, Angam reminded that the Scheme was first introduced in the State at Tamenglong district.

In the second phase, 130 districts were selected for implementation of the Scheme with Churachandpur and Senapati districts included among the select districts of the country.

He said, the most important feature of MGNREGS is the guarantee of 100 days of employment to every household in the rural areas.

Asstt project Officer DRDO Thoubal, Md.Sirajur Rehman, deliberating on 'Indira Awas Yojna' said IAY was started to provide houses to the poor people.

Beneficiaries should be from amongst SC/ST, minority communities and BPL families.

He said framers of the policy knew that 83 percent of the country's population live in rural area of which 73 percent are homeless.

IAY envisages to provide houses to all these homeless people of the country, Sirajur maintained and added that fund allotted for construction of houses under IAY too had been increased with 75 percent borne by the centre and 25 percent by the states in the national context.

in NE region the state share is only 10 percent and as such fund flow should not be an impediment in implementing IAY projects, the DRDO official said.

He also informed the gathering that in Thoubal district 262 houses could be constructed under IAY in 2012-13 .

Speaking on 'Total Sanitation Campaign' Director, Communication and Capacity Development Unit (CCDU), Public Health Engineering Department (PHED), Manipur L Swamikanta said that every household should have a low cost sanitary toilet.

Such a simple toilet can be constructed at the cost of just about Rs 10,000.The CCDU bears Rs 4000 and the Gram Panchayat should contribute about Rs 6000 to construct an ordinary sanitary toilet.

Through film slides, the CCDU Director also showed how to construct simple and easy toilet.

SE Rural Circle No.1 PHED Manipur L Ibomcha commenting on health and sanitation said one must use safe drinking water to keep oneself in good health and added that 40 percent of the diseases prevalent can be controlled by using safe drinking water.

He also said drinking water supply is an important component of the flagship programme.

Plans are afoot to provide drinking water to all the villages in Thoubal district.

A website has been launched and by visiting the site one can know the area covered by rural water supply scheme, he informed.

On the second day of the campaign a free medical camp was also organised in which more than 200 persons received medical treatment and medicines free of cost.

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