The Central Government on Wednesday decided to award Chhattisgarh with first prize for highest performance in fiscal 2012-13 under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) at national level.
This is the third award in a week’s time for the Chhattisgarh Government by the Central government. Earlier, the Union Agriculture Ministry had selected Chhattisgarh for the Krishi Karman Award 2012-13 for the best performing State in rice production in the country. The award will be presented to the Chief Minister Raman Singh by President Pranab Mukherjee on February 10. Next, the Central Government decided to confer a national award on the State’s Durg district for development of basic facilities to the urban poor.
The decision to select Chhattisgarh for the three top national level awards in just seven days time has stunned the State's Opposition Congress leaders, who always claim that the BJP-ruled Chhattisgarh has performed miserably in the implementation of majority of Central Government-sponsored key schemes and projects meant for the welfare of the masses.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Raman Singh greeted the people of Chhattisgarh on Wednesday after the news of MGNREGA Award was officially confirmed. In a message to people, Singh, who is ruling the State since December 2003, said, “Even though a new State, Chhattisgarh has been flying the flag of success in the country in every sector of development. The credit for this should be given to the hardwork of the people of the State and the development of work culture in the State,''.
Top officials of panchayat and rural development department stated that under MGNREGA, the first prize in convergence category has been declared for Chhattisgarh for the 2012-13. The award would be given on February 2 at the national MNREGA convention in New Delhi. In 2012-13, by spending Rs 2,232 crore, Chhattisgarh had provided 12.10 crore man days employment to the workers in rural areas under MGNREGA.