Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Wednesday said MGNREGA (Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act) played an important role in providing jobs in rural areas and asked officials to spread awareness for effective implementation and put up a better monitoring system to ensure payment within a week. CM was addressing a meeting of Employment Guarantee Council.
Soren said it is essential that jobs under MGNREGA are provided on time besides a timely payment for works done. While referring to the hurdles faced in rural areas the CM emphasised greater participation by Panchayati Raj Institutions in the development of common man residing in rural areas. Officials and employees must find out solution to the problems, the CM said. The CM stressed on coordination among different departments to expand the nature of works that is usually provided under MNREGA. Different departments must implement their schemes on ground, continued CM. He suggested plantation and artistry as new works that can be included under MNREGA.
Commissioners and Deputy Commissioners need to conduct drives to ascertain problems and their solutions besides using innovative methods for implementing the work, asserted Soren.
Rural Development Minister Chandrashekhar Dubey stressed on increasing women's participation in the scheme in addition to empowering Rojgar Sevaks and Gram Sevaks. Chief Secretary R S Sharma emphasised on using information technology for payments and dissemination of related information through SMS and voice SMS.