Secretary, Rural Development Department (RDD) and Panchayati Raj, Muhammad Aijaz Asad, today directed the concerned districts to assess the damage caused to Rural Development Department infrastructure by the recent flash floods, landslides and heavy rainfall, stating that restoration of damaged public assets should receive the highest priority under the available allocations of the Viksit Bharat–Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-GRAM-G).
Chairing a review meeting on the implementation of the VB-GRAM-G Scheme, the Secretary said that the Department would approach the MoRD for additional financial assistance, enhanced person-day allocation and suitable operational relaxations to support restoration works and generate supplementary employment in calamity-affected areas.
Referring to the provisions of the newly launched VB-GRAM-G Act, Asad said the legislation provides for supporting employment generation and restoration of rural assets in the aftermath of natural calamities. He directed the Assistant Commissioners Development to undertake a comprehensive assessment of damage to Rural Development Department assets, including rural roads, culverts, cross-drainage structures, drainage systems, crossing points and public buildings, particularly in the worst-affected districts of Poonch, Rajouri, Doda, Kishtwar, Bandipora and Budgam.
“Our immediate priority is to complete a comprehensive assessment of all damaged Rural Development Department assets so that restoration works can begin without delay. The districts should also estimate the additional person-days that can be generated through these works to support affected rural households,” the Secretary said.
Reviewing implementation of the scheme, the Secretary was informed that 9.01 lakh person-days had been generated across the Union Territory during the first twenty days of July under the newly launched employment guarantee programme. The Secretary instructed the Directors of Rural Development to closely monitor the employment generation, damage assessment and restoration planning. He also directed the districts to prepare quarterly financial and physical plans, expedite billing alongside execution of works, clear long-pending Geo-MGNREGA cases, dispose of pending Fund Transfer Orders (FTOs), submit Utilisation Certificates and ensure timely expenditure of available funds.
The meeting was attended by Director Rural Development Kashmir Riyaz Ahmad Wani, Director Rural Development Jammu Shehnaz Akhtar, Additional Secretary (Member Secretary, VB-GRAM-G) Waseem Raja, Superintending Engineers, Assistant Commissioners Development, Executive Engineers (REW) and other senior officers.