The State will send a proposal to the Government of India for including the task of collecting pine needles under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MNREGA). Additionally, production of aromatic plants and development of aromatic clusters will also be facilitated under MNREGA.
The mothers of about 20,000 malnourished children will be linked to the National Rural Employment Mission. The Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat appealed to the officers to adopt the responsibility of two malnourished children each as part of their social responsibility.
He also directed the officials to study in detail the food habits of families of malnourished children and their socio-economic background. The Chief Minister said this while chairing a review meet of the Uttarakhand state employment guarantee council (MNREGA).
Chairing the meeting, Rawat directed the chief development officers of all the districts to encourage the making of vermi compost and Shivansh fertiliser under MNREGA.
The making an use of Shivansh fertiliser will be started as a pilot project in 15 identified organic blocks of the State. Further, on the directions of the Chief Minister, work will be undertaken at Kartarpur village in Haridwar district to protect and nurture native cow breeds and the milk from here will be marketed and supplied up to Delhi. The successful model of Kosi river revival in Almora will be adopted in every district. Two to three rivers will be revived in each district based on the Kosi model.
The Chief Minister said that work should also be undertaken to make cattle shelters more convenient and comfortable to bring about qualitative improvement in the lives of the cattle there.
Rawat stressed on the need for work on ascertaining which commercial activities can play an important role along with the production of aromatic and other herbs under Van Panchayats. Special focus should be laid on trouts in fishery under MNREGA in Pithoragarh, Uttarkashi and Rudraprayag districts. The horticulture department should also focus on developing walnut clusters under the scheme.
Taking serious cognisance of complaints by Gram Pradhans and other public representatives about payment under MNREGA not being received on time, the Chief Minister directed the Rural Development principal secretary to check the complaints. He also directed that the social audit of MNREGA works should be made more transparent and strengthened. Special focus should be laid on enhancing livelihood through works like enhancing soil productivity, fisheries, development of barren land, horticulture, silk and afforestation.
Officials informed in the meeting that the Rural Development ministry had presented five awards to Uttarakhand for commendable work under MNREGA. The additional chief secretary Radha Raturi, principal secretary Manisha Panwar, chief development officers of all districts and other officials were present in the meeting.