Video Conference with SDOs at 4 pm on 18th June 2010

Next video conference with SDOs regarding administrative matters and citizen services shall be held on 18th June 2010 at 4 pm. I'll attend from Asansol SDO Office. Agenda follow up on earlier meetings including IAY, NSAP, Health & ICDS matters etc.

upload database of NSAP pensions and send updated database to get additional pension sanctioned

• Upload the payment status of IGNOAPS, IGNDPS, IGNWPS on the website, directly from SEBA software as it is very poorly reflected.
• Additional pension beneficiaries as on 01.01.2010 can be sanctioned only against the beneficiary details uploaded in the website. Those failed to submit data by 31st March 2010 must send it now before July end so that their pensions can be sanctioned wef 1st September 2010.
• Correction of database based on physical verification must be completed by 30th June 2010, if not already done.

Mid Day meal - intensify monitoring at SDO level and go for proactive dislcosure under RTI

Mid day meal is one of the flagship programmes covering a larger population in the district. SDOs are requested to take following steps to improve quality, access and effectiveness of the programme in the schools :-

• Quarterly Progress Report (QPR) must be compiled by 8th of July, October, January and April for all block and Urban local bodies at Subdivision and send consolidated report to district. QPR must contain food grain report, fund utilisation, status of kitchen shed construction, toilet & drinking water availability and MME etc as per prescribed format.
• Take stock of food grain at each Institution and suggest adjustment of excess balance in next allotment. There is no point allowing wastage of food grains stocked for long time. Schools may serve mid day meal on Saturdays also.
• Take stock of fund availability at Institution level and adjust excess/ shortfall from the next allotment. We are in a position to release funds till September 2010 at a time. Block authorities may release cooking cost in advance for the months till September so that the school authorities are not compelled to buy ration on credit.
• Fund release can be simplified, opening accounts of schools in the branch next to CLRC, where BDO may also open account.
• Do write the number of students present, menu of food and market rate of daily items on the wall of the school daily. Format may be printed on the wall as has been done in NREGA at GPs. SHGs doing cooking or the class monitors on rotation may update the daily figures. Transparency in this matter may be helpful for public awareness.
• Kitchen sheds should be constructed with the help of VECs/ MCs @ Rs 60000 each released earlier without engaging contractors.
• Quarterly review at Subdivision level with SIs, Schools and Block/ ULBs may be held once the QPRs are ready.

Please assign the work to one of the Deputy Magistrate. Computer support can be provided out of MME funds.

I'll review the position during my fortnightly video conference next time.

VISIT of NLM in Burdwan

The National Level Monitor visited works of MGNREGS, SGSY, NSAP, IAY, TSC and other centrally sponsored schemes in the District of Burdwan in the first week of June. He visited Kanksa, Ausgram-II and Galsi-I and expressed his satisfaction about the effort of Team Burdwan. He held a review meeting on his findings with the District Magistrate and his team.

Journey into Wilderness

The herd of 32 elephants have entered Burdwan District in the late nights of 7th June, 2010. They stayed at around the forest at Ausgram-2. DFO Bankura & DFO Burdwan contacted DM Burdwan. SDO Sadar North and BDO Ausgram-2 moved there and they controlled the people gathered there so that the herd passed on to get back to Bankura on 11th June. The photos are when they were in Ausgram-2 Block.