Rural Development and Panchayats Minister , Punjab Sikander Singh Maluka today called upon the representatives of Panchayati Raj to play a pro active role in generating awareness amongst the masses about various aspects of the MGNREGA scheme to get optimum benefits out of it.Disclosing this here today a spokesperson of the state government said that the minister was presiding over a meeting of the Punjab State Employment Guarantee Council in which the members of the council had observed the progress of the department during the year 2015-16, besides the current period of 2016-17.
In the course of the meeting, the Minister stressed upon the role of representatives of Panchayati Raj in creating awareness for the effectiveness of the scheme. He batted for the need to hold Camps for training of Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRI) representatives at district and block level.
Apart from this awareness about various aspects of MGNREGA scheme will be conducted through wall writing and other activities in villages about the scheme. On the occasion, members of the Council put forward their suggestions concerning effective implementation of the scheme and discussion was also held about the new works which can be introduced in the MGNREGA scheme.The Minister further said that Punjab Government would provide job cards to avail MGNREGA wages to those farmers having less than 5 acre and who cultivate their land themselves.During the meeting, S. Deepinder Singh Dhillon, Secretary, Rural Development and Panchayats conveyed that lots of new works can be done by convergence under the MGNREGA scheme.
The Work of constructing cattle ponds was approved in the meeting which will be implemented in Punjab State after approval from Central Government so that fields of farmers can be protected from stray animals. At this moment, annual reports were also approved. Suggestions of all members of the council members were listened carefully by the Minister. He thanked all the members and conveyed that the meeting for the Punjab State Employment Guarantee Council will be conducted after every quarter so that scheme can be implemented with more effectiveness.This meeting was attended by Deepinder Singh Dhillon, Secretary, Rural Development and Panchayats, Hardiyal Singh Chatha, Deputy Director (EP) and Council members.