The ‘Rice Festival’ would be celebrated across Chhattisgarh’s 9734 village panchayats on seventh of every month along with holding of the ‘Employment Guarantee Day’, officials informed.
Rice festival is being held at every ration shop across the State for the past several years under its public distribution system (PDS).During the celebration, distribution of essential food items is being done in the presence of the general public and local people’s representatives.Panchayat and Rural Development Minister Ajay Chandrakar on Thursday said under this scheme, the State Government had decided to celebrate the rice festival along with the ‘Employment Guarantee Day.’
Department’s Principal Secretary MK Raut has issued circulars to all district collectors, chief executive officers (CEOs) of the district panchayats, and project directors of all district rural development agencies.In this circular, the Government said that Rice Festival would be celebrated along with the ‘Employment Guarantee Day’ to make the event more effective.
Besides the ‘Employment Guarantee Day’ could also be celebrated on the last Saturday of every month. However it has become mandatory for all concerned to celebrate the festival on seventh of every month.In the circular, it was also stated that the officials have to provide information related to employment opportunities on that day besides accepting applications from the people and providing them receipts of its acknowledgement.
It may be noted that activities should not be limited employment day. distribution of jobs, payment of wages, disbursement of unemployment allowance are also other things which should be carried out on the occasion.The proceedings of the Employment Guarantee Day should be carried out in public place and registers related to Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MNREGA) scheme and other records should be kept at the meeting venue.
In the circular, it was also stated that the Employment Guarantee Day should not be made limited to job registration and other formal activities.To make it more effective, it is essential that people should be given information on new works and the current state of employment etc.