Himachal Pradesh Urban Development Minister Suresh Bhardwaj on Thursday reviewed the much ambitious Mukhya Mantri Shahri Ajeevika Guarantee Yojana (MMSAGY) and Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana - National Urban Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NULM) schemes.Bhardwaj said that both of these schemes are related to employment and they pave the way for Aatmanirbhar Bharat.The minister said Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur-led state government launched Mukhya Mantri Shahri Ajeevika Guarantee Yojana in May this year."The scheme is aimed at providing guaranteed employment in urban areas," said Bharadwaj.Elaborating further about the scheme, he said that 120 days' job guarantee has been assured to residents of urban local bodies within 15 days of issuance of job cards, failing which Rs 75 per day will be paid as unemployment allowance.While reviewing this scheme, it was observed that total 3,545 people have been registered under this scheme in all urban local bodies, of which, 2,447 have been issued job cards across the state.
"As many as 1,808 of the total 2,099 assigned the work have accepted the job. 1,009 have accepted the infrastructure-related work while remaining 799 went for sanitation-related jobs in ULBs across the state under this scheme," said Bhardwaj.The minister instructed officials to remove hurdles if any, so that more people could benefit from the scheme. "This is a new scheme. We need to popularise it," he added.While reviewing Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana - National Urban Livelihoods mission (DAY-NULM), the minister directed officials to find ways to make the scheme successful during COVID-19 situation.The minister said that Himachal Pradesh has been achieving its targets under this scheme and efforts are on to bring more people under its ambit."In FY 2020-21, Rs 1.54 cr has been spent under this scheme while Rs 3.64 cr is yet unspent," he added.Further, he said that 324 self-help groups (SHGs) have been formed in 2020-21 so far against the target of 200.Bhardwaj added that the scheme also works as a support system for urban street vendors. "4,054 identity cards have been issued to vendors so far besides 3,798 certificates," he said, adding, "As per a survey, 5,790 street vendors have been identified across the 54 ULBs."He said 5,000 street vendors in 30 towns have been trained on solid waste management, health and hygiene.The minister said that these schemes would be reviewed on a monthly basis.