The flagship MGNREGS will be converged with other schemes and programmes in the State to ensure food, environment and water security.
At a high-level meeting here, Chief Secretary JK Mohapatra has directed different departments to work out a concrete action plan for the proposed convergence by the end of February. Mohapatra indicated that the major areas of convergence should be plantation programmes, construction of Anganwadi Centre buildings and rural sanitation activities. Other areas of major convergence considered were construction of forest roads, culverts and land development.
The Chief Secretary directed to create water source along with land development activities. The Panchayati Raj department was directed to ensure advance availability of funds at district level for plantation activities. Forest and Environment department was asked to take up massive plantation in degraded forest areas and increase the green cover density.
There is vast scope for convergence of MGNREGS and other programmes in the agricultural sectors like plantation, livelihood, fisheries, watersheds, sericulture and land development. The nonagricultural sectors for convergence include development of play ground, rural sanitation, construction of AWC, individual household latrines and all weather roads.
It was decided that henceforth Rs 10,000 will be sanctioned for construction of individual household latrines out of which Rs 5,400 will be from the MGNREGS to be principally utilized in labor component of the project. The average cost calculated for construction of one AWC has been calculated at Rs 5 lakh out of which 2, 25,000 will be provided from the MGNREGS and the balance fund will be met from departmental fund of Women and Child Development. land development, land leveling, putting good quality of soil, soil treatment, grass turfing and drainage clearance works have been permitted under the MGNREGS. The works like boundary wall, gallery, construction of rooms, etc are not allowed under this convergence.
It was decided that a major portion of the MGNREGS funds allotted for these convergence projects will be utilized towards labour cost of both the skilled and unskilled workers. Similarly, the activities proposed for convergence under sericulture include host plantation, silkworm rearing, cocoon harvesting and all post cocoon activities till marketing. The beneficiaries will contribute towards part of labour and material inputs in these activities. It was also decided that the MGNRGES will be converged with the PMGSY, National Rural livelihood Mission and Integrated Watershed Management Programme.