Port Blair, June 30: The Directorate of RD, PRIs & ULBshas resumed the MGNREGA works on priority to provide employment to the poor households.In the time of pandemic, where most of the poor households are without any source of regular income, the resumption of MGNREGA works after relaxation in lockdown norms recently had rejuvenated rural livelihood in the Islands. The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA),one of the most popular flagship programs of Govt. of India ensures at least100 days of wage employment to rural people and has been source of livelihood for many rural people.
The MGNREGA has turned out to be a major source of employment to the rural population when all the other source of employments in urban areas was halted. Beneficiaries are being provided employment as per their demand.
In order to provide employment in the pandemic and reimbursing pending wages of beneficiaries, the Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD) has released a total amount of Rs.763.31 Lakh under MGNREGA for the Financial Year 2021-22.From the total amount released, Rs.584.88Lakh is released towards labour wage component including pending wages to tune with Rs.450 Lakh; Rs. 161.15 Lakhis released for Material component and Rs. 17.13Lakh towards Admin component.
The rural populace isvery excited on resumption of MGNREGA works and even more encouraged after receipt of pending wages.Around 50 nos. of works have been resumed in the Islands after relaxation in the lockdown. While executing the work, the field officials are ensuring adherence of all COVID protocols viz. social distancing, sanitization of workers and wearing mask in the work sites.
An instance of MGNREGA work which has been resumed in this lockdown to provide employment to beneficiaries is at Guptapara Gram Panchayat.A katcha approach road of length 435 m is being constructed from Nayasahar main road to Subramani house via Chinnaiah house at Nayasahar-I whichwill provide connectivity to around 20 nos. of Households of the area. The work is sanctioned with an estimated cost of Rs.4,92,000 and estimated persondays of 1820. At present, around 22 nos. of beneficiaries are being provided employment from the resumption of this work.
Smt. Vijaya, MGNREGA beneficiary from Gram Panchayat Guptapara expressed gratitude to the Administration and MGNREGA team for releasing the pending wages to the beneficiaries in the time of pandemic.She added that MGNREGA is a lifeline to the poor needy people in providing employment, when all other sources of income were haltedand is very happy with the resumption of MGNREGA work at Guptapara.