From Our Correspondent
Guwahati: The Union Rural Development Ministry has instructed Assam government to shift the focus of implementation of MNREGA scheme from building roads to other sectors like irrigation, restoration of water bodies, plantation and improvement of forest cover.
The Ministry has provided Rs 1100 crore to Assam under MNREGA scheme for the current fiscal and wanted to make most of it for the benefit of small farmers through implementation of irrigation schemes.
Sources informed that the complaints regarding delayed payment to MNREGA beneficiaries would be examined in detail on November 2 when officials of the Union Rural Development Ministry will sit with state government officials.
Meanwhile, Assam has been made one of the five focus states for implementation of National Rural Livelihood Mission which has the aim to include at least one women from every rural BPL family as a member of women self-help group (SHG). The other states in focus included Bihar, Orissa, Jharkhand, and Chhattisgarh. These states have been asked to set up women SHGs in rural areas following Andhra |Pradesh model. All the 290 blocks in Assam in the next three years.
The Rural Development Ministry further assured Assam government of assistance in improving drinking water quality. Assam gets Rs 430 crore every year under the National Rural Drinking Water Programme. Assam is faced with a serious problem of contamination of ground water with arsenic, fluoride and iron. According to experts the solution lies in improving the quality of surface water where the state needs expert assistance.
Meanwhile, the Rural Development Ministry has increased the target for Indira Awas Yojana (IAY) for Assam from 1.67 lakh to two lakh houses for the year 2011-12. Similarly, target for old-age pension for the year 2011012 has been increased to 1.23 lakh from original 64,000. The quantum of old-age pension is Rs 250 per head including Central government component of Rs 200. Regarding disability pension scheme the target has been increased to 40,000 beneficiaries from original 24,000 for the current fiscal. The quantum is Rs 250 per beneficiary per month.