NREGA : gloomy position of Haldibari

 

COOCH BEHAR, Dec. 13: Work of different schemes under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) in Cooch Behar-I block has began in full swing. Recently, the additional district magistrate (development) Mr Pannalal Mahapatra had to issue an instruction to start work there within 10 December. He had also threatened freezing up of the bank accounts of the gram panchayats concerned by 15 December if they fail in providing jobs to the villagers under NREGA. It is believed that the threat worked.

 

According to the latest progress report on NREGA Sitalkuchi, Tufanganj-I and Mathabhanga-II blocks are on the top of the list in spending of NREGA funds. Rs 2.46-crore spent in Sitalkuchi block while Rs 1.52-crore spent in Tufanganj-I and Rs 1.16-crore in Mathabhanga-II block.

 

The position of Haldibari in Mekhliganj sub-division is at the bottom of the list. It spent Rs 1.1-lakh only in employment generation jobs since beginning of the NREGA scheme in this district this year.

 

Observing the poor performance of the NREGA scheme at Haldibari, the ADM (D) Mr Pannalal Mahapatra today instructed the Haldibari BDO, Mr Narbu Singh Lepcha to take an initiative to start employment generation schemes in that block immediately. He made it clear that if necessary the district administration will have to issue order to freeze the bank accounts of the gram panchayats concerned so that they cannot draw any fund received from the NREGA scheme.

 

The ADM (D) also asked the Haldibari BDO to start at least five schemes in each of the gram panchayat areas to provide jobs to the villagers because the Job Card holders has a right to get jobs for at least 100-days in a year under NREGA. He also instructed the BDO to submit a detailed report to the district administration by 17 December intimating the progress of work.

 

After launching of the NREGA scheme in Cooch Behar district in May work commenced in a few gram panchayat areas but later some of them were discontinued for unknown reasons. Many Job Card holders had alleged of non-availability of jobs. Moreover, the gram panchayats concerned failed to give them any assurance of job. On being informed of the complaints the district administration took up an initiative to implement the 100-day job guarantee scheme in all the gram panchayat areas. Monitoring of monthly progress report was also initiated.

 

When asked, the ADM (D) Mr Mahapatra said they received about Rs 46.15-crore from NREGA fund in three instalments. In twelve blocks in Cooch Behar district they already spent Rs 8.9-crore in different employment generation schemes. Admitting that Cooch Behar is on the nineteenth position among the districts in this state in implementing of the NREGA scheme he assured that from now they will try to achieve the first position. []

 

Cooch Behar ranks first

 

COOCH BEHAR, Dec. 13: In implementation of schemes with Local Area Development funds of Members of Parliament (MP-LAD) the position of Cooch Behar district is first among other districts in this state in 2007-08. During this fiscal year Rs 7-crore was sanctioned from the MP-LAD fund of Lok Sabha member Mr Hiten Barman and Rs 11-crore from the fund of Rajya Sabha member Mr Tarini Roy.

 

Cooch Behar also ranked first in implementing schemes under Bidhayak Elaka Unnayan Prakalpa (BEUP). Rs 3.60-crore were sanctioned from funds of different MLAs of Cooch Behar district during the current fiscal year.

 

District Planning Officer Mr Sunil Agarwala claimed ninety percent work of the sanctioned schemes was completed. Construction of college and school buildings, irrigation facilities, roads, small bridges and culverts, drains and a hospital are going on with the funds.

 

In implementation of developmental schemes under Uttar Banga Unnayan Parshad (UBUP) the position of Cooch Behar is second while Uttar Dinajpur is ranked first. []