With easing of Covid-19 lockdown restrictions, Rural Development Department (RDD) Doda, has generated 2.32 lakh Person-days generated across the district.The Department, on the directions of DDC Dr Sagar D Doifode, activated men and material to take up most of the works under flagship MGNREGA and PMAY schemes to enable labour class of the district to earn their livelihood and overcome financial crisis they were facing due to lockdown.As the government issued SOPs for starting MGNREGA, the RDD has laid special focus on resuming not only MGNREGA works, but also works under other schemes to generate maximum number of person-days across the district so that labourers including migrant labourers are provided the means of livelihood.“Following the Government instructions to start MGNREGA works w.e.f 20th April , all the labour oriented works and developmental activities, which were halted due to lockdown and restrictions have been resumed and are in full swing with due observance of SOPs / Protocols,” said Assistant Commissioner Development (ACD) Doda,Mr Prem Singh Chib.“The works have been taken up on fast track basis and instructions have been to prioritize the works to ensure execution of community based works so that maximum labourers get employment, he added.While elaborating on resumption of developmental activities, he said that focus is to provide immediate employment to underprivileged, poor and labour class of the district.
Accordingly, about 3665 works including 146 spillover and 3519 new ones have been taken in hand for early completion so far, while the number of works is increasing on daily basis.“Works under MGNREGA and PMAY were taken up purposely as these are main source of generating livelihood means for labour class. Over 14k labourers were simultaneously engaged across the district in 17 CD blocks thereby generating about 2.32 lakh Person-days providing alternate employment to 9365 households,” he said.Regarding progress made under PMAY(G) since the easing of restrictions, the department has registered 4871 till date out of 5520. Of these 2398 are geo tagged in this financial year under the scheme, their documentation is ongoing at a fast pace in the respective blocks by the concerned BDO's and first installment will be sanctioned in favour of the beneficiaries registered as soon as their documentation will be completed, he added.Moreover, under PMAY(G), out of target of 1461 cases of phase-I ,1350 stand completed till date and the Deptt is eyeing to complete all the PMAY houses under phase II, in the District by March 2021 positively, the ACD Doda added.“Despite difficult circumstances due to Covid-19 outbreak, it was a big challenge for the district administration to maintain proper hygiene and social distancing norms at all work-sites as most of the works are done manually and are labourer oriented. For this purpose, on the directions of DDC Doda Dr Sagar D Doifode, the FCS&CA Department provided near about 4 lakh face masks in the rural areas, including to the labourers engaged on different works, the officer said.He said the focus is not only providing dignified employment but at the same time to ensure quality of works and creation of valuable community assets in the panchayats by actively involving the PRIs.