Minister P&RD reviews rural development schemes in Hailakandi

June 15: A high level team of officials led by Minister for Panchayat and Rural Development, Naba Kumar Doley reviewed the rural development programmes here on Monday. Reviewing the rural development schemes with the district administration, CEO, Zilla Parishad, BDOs and Circle Officers at DC’s conference hall, Minister Doley said the prime focus of the government is to rehabilitate the migrant workers coming back to the state and asked the administration and officials of the department concerned to provide job card within seven days and also ensure payment within the stipulated 15 days’ time frame.

Doley said Rs.40,000 crore has been earmarked by Government of India for MGNREGA and Assam would also be immensely benefited out of the flagship scheme. The Minister asked the district administration and the department concerned to prepare gaon panchayat wise list on the basis of the skills of the migrant workers and to employ them in meaningful employment in different avocations.

The Minister reviewed the PMAY-G Phase I and II and asked the BDOs to work actively for ensuring house for all by 2022. Doley disclosed that the district has got additional 81,000 houses under PMAY-G as per the economic and caste census. Doley also asked the officials to ensure that while economic activities go hand in hand with the COVID-19 pandemic, physical distancing, wearing of masks and personal hygiene have to be maintained to keep the virus at bay.

The Minister also reviewed the National Social Assistance Programme and the two flagship programmes of the state government namely Kushal Konwar Universal Old Age Pension Yojana and Indira Miri Universal Widow Pension for the widows and senior citizens and asked the officials to go in for massive enrollment drive through awareness programmes. Doley also discussed about the ongoing schemes under the 14th Finance Commission for the years 2017-18, 2018-19 and 2019-20. He asked the officials to expeditiously complete the ongoing and pending schemes and to make optimal utilisation of the allotted funds within three months.

The Minister also said that the government has started a scheme for giving Rs.50,000 to landless people and those living in forest areas. Doley said verification of job cards has to be done expeditiously within 15 days so that there is no delay in payment of wages. The Minister reviewed schemes under ASLRM and said the SHGs produced 70 lakh masks out of which SHGs of Hailakandi district produced 1.50 lakh masks generating a business of over Rs.23 lakh. The Minister appreciated the geo tagging under PMAG-Y, account verification by PFMS and correction of invalid account.

The meeting was attended, among others, by MP, Kripanath Mallah, MLAs Nizamuddin Choudhury, Suzamuddin Laskar, Principal Secretary, P&RD, JB Ekka, Commissioner, P&RD, Hemen Das, Deputy Commissioner, Megh Nidhi Dahal, District Development Commissioner, Vikram Dev Sharma and CEO, Zilla Parishad, Hari Charan Bhakta.