To review the progress of MGNREGA, PMAY(G), NRLM, R-urban, PMGSY, NSAP, PSDMS and various Centrally sponsored schemes Mr. Amarjit Sinha, Secretary Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India, New Delhi today held a meeting here today at Punjab Bhawan with the officials of the Punjab Government. Mr. Karan Avtar Singh Chief Secretary Punjab, Mr. Tejveer Singh Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Punjab, Mr. Anirudh Tewari Principal Secretary Finance, Mr. Sanjay Kumar ACS and Mr. DK Tewari Principal Secretary Rural Development and Mr. Jaskiran Singh Director Rural Development attended the meeting.Mrs. Tanu Kashyap Joint Development Commissioner Rural Development Department, Punjab gave a brief presentation on MGNREGA, PMAY(G), NRLM and R-urban to depict the progress made during the 1st quarter of Financial Year 2019-20. Mrs. Raji P. Srivastava Principal Secretary Social Security, Women & Child Development gave presentation regarding National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP), Mr. Hussan Lal Secretary PWD gave presentation regarding Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) and Mr. Sukhwinder Singh AMD, PSDM gave presentation regarding Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana (DDU-GKY). Mrs. Jaspreet Talwar Secretary Water Supply & Sanitation presented her views on the MNREGA allowing last mile connectivity for water supply in villages and Mrs. Gurpreet Kaur Sapra Director Social Security gave her inputs about the Social Security schemes.
Mr. Amarjit Sinha appreciated the progress made under these Schemes and ensured that funds may not be a hindrance in way of progress of Centrally Sponsored Schemes. He highlighted the issue of depleting water table in the State of Punjab and insisted to formulate schemes for water charging and its conservation. He suggested that these types of activity can be taken up under MGNREGA. He insisted upon the convergence in various development Schemes of State and Centre government for quality assets creation. Secretary also suggested to create corpus of fund at State level to meet any exigency. He assured that material funds for MGNREGA will be released shortly to the State. During discussion it was proposed that skilled and Semi-skilled worker payment, currently which is the part of Material component (40%) should be included in the labour component (60%). He told that the matter is already under consideration and may be sorted out soon. Secretary MoRD desired that credit linkage of SHG’s should be taken up on large scale as banking industry is very strong in the State, It will push more fund in the rural area resulting in overall development. Secretary was requested to enhance the target under PMAY(G). He made a positive response and desired to send written request to MoRD. He also appreciated the works done under PMGSY in the State. He mentioned that quality work as being done in Madhya Pradesh and same can be replicated in the State of Punjab.