NREGA - Emphasis more on rural roads, Individual benefit schemes and waterbody excavation

I visited Tehatta -II Block today along with SDO. As regards NREGA my observations are as follows :-

1. Shelf of schemes for all GP sansads must be ready by middle of October, 2009 along with vetted estimates of each scheme, names of supervisors to be engaged, number of job card holders to be engaged based on duration vis a vis total man days to be created. It is better if GP wise vetted schemes are approved by PO well in advance and uploaded on website.
2. There is scope for taking up more number of road works, both jhama bats as well as WBM as wage to material ratio in Nadia is only 9 %. Schemes with more than 40 % material component may be allowed provided cumulative wage to material ratio of 60 : 40 is maintained at Block level. So, RCC roads in flood affected areas, pucca drainage channel around hospitals/ educational institutions/ playgrounds can be easily allowed under NREGA.
3. Since Marginal and small farmers have also been included under IBS, there is tremendous scope to take up works of Banana plantation, Mango, Guava and other perennial fruit crops on the lands of farmers owning less than 2 hectares (15 bighas). More than 98 % of farmers in Nadia district falls under this category. Therefore, ponds/ beels of farmers, cultivation of fruit crops can be sanctioned under NREGA. Supervisors can be given the task of identifying such beneficiaries, preparation of consolidated scheme and its implementation. Training to enlisted supervisors can be organised by blocks to prepare such schemes, collection of application for jobs, preparing muster rolls and payment advice. They can be paid as supervisor cum motivator/ facilitator only after successful completion of plantation works, with survival rate of plants more than 805% or more. If organised properly, a large number of persons can be provided employment, without any problems of measurement of earth work.
4. Small household ponds, tanks of farmers can also be excavated now, without any agreement, where job card holders can work.
5. Delay in payment is not negotiable and unpardonable. DPC shall impose fine upon POs/ GPs for delays, if complaints are lodged or media reports indicate such lapses. Ombudsman are being appointed in next three months to do this honour. All POs/ GPs must take the matter seriously.
6. More wall writing on small/ marginal farmer and other aspects of NREGA must be done.
7. District NREGA cell has been asked to release more funds under administrative heads so that to improve mobility support to blocks/ GPs, strengthen MIS cell etc.
8. All BDOs and POs are expected to complete the preparatory works for full fledged work at all GPs in the month of November 2009 onwards, with target of 50 days average works to al households demanded work. GP average expenditure of 30 lakhs has to be achieved by March 2009. I am sure taking up more works of the nature explained above can ensure this target.

Social Security Schemes - fill up vacancies and complete opening of accounts immediately

Chief Secretary GoWB along with Additional Chief Secretary/ Principal Secretary of eight departments reviewed ongoing development schemes of Govt with district officials at Behrampore on 19th September 2009 for 5 hours. We will be writing to concerned field officers in coming few weeks to do follow up on the decisions/ suo motu actions to improve the performance to the satisfaction of target beneficiaries/ people.

At present we cover more than 100000 families under different pensions. It is reported that a large number of cases under Old Age pension, Disability Pensions, widow pension of social welfare department are vacant and proposals from the Panchayat Samities are not being submitted to DSWO. These cases are related to additional quota sanctioned in 2008-09, fund already placed to BDOs. SDOs may please take personal review and impress upon the blocks to submit all cases by October, 2009. As per the reports at our end there are 763 vacancies in Sadar, 289 in Tehatta, 537 in Ranaghat and 197 in Kalyani Sub division till date.

Payment of all kinds of pensions has to be done through post office/ bank accounts as decided by Govt. So far accounts have been opened in the name of 50 % beneficiaries only under IGNOAPS, less than 50 % in case of social welfare pension. Steps must be taken to complete it 100 % so that the new system can be started. Block level data management cell headed by BIO must be strengthened immediately and database of all pension cases, formats for sending advice to banks/ post office etc should be kept in readiness. Payments to blocks shall be done through e-transfer, thereafter, BDO can deposit monthly requirement to Bank/ Head Post Office along with scroll for payment to beneficiaries from their counters. These is urgent need for awareness and coordination meetings with all agencies involved.

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