Chhattisgarh has taken the second spot across India in providing 100 days of employment to job-card holder families under MNREGA, it was announced on Wednesday.
“In the current financial year, Chhattisgarh holds the second rank in terms of creating employment against the target. Sixty-six percent of the target for the year has been achieved within the first trimester,” a Government press release said.
The districts affected by Naxalite violence have performed commendably well in providing work to people in rural areas. The top five districts to provide maximum employment against the target in the State are in the Bastar Division.
Ten districts of the state have completed more than 70 percent of the work under sanctioned labour budget for the year, officials said.
Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel and Panchayat and Rural Development Minister T.S. Singh Deo have congratulated the department's employees and panchayat representatives for their consistent excellent performance in implementing MNREGA.
“Despite the lockdown due to Covid-19, work under MNREGA was providing direct employment to a large number of villagers.
These have played an important role in supporting the rural economy under the adverse circumstances,” both leaders said.
The Central Government has approved a labour budget of Rs 13.50 crore man days for Chhattisgarh in the current financial year. In the first three months, the State has achieved 66 per cent target by creating 8.85 crore man days of employment.
The national average of employment generation in the first quarter is 39 per cent, officials said.