The Union Ministry of Rural Development today organised a “Brainstorming” session on further strengthening of Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) under the chairmanship of Union Minister of Rural Development and Agriculture & Farmers Welfare Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan.
Union Minister Shri Chauhan held direct discussions with MNREGA workers, representatives and officials of social organizations, commissioners and other officials of about 20 states, officials of districts, blocks and gram panchayats.
Ministers of State Shri Kamlesh Paswan and Dr. Chandrasekhar Pemmasani, Secretary Rural Development Shri Shailesh Kumar Singh, Additional Secretary Shri T.K. Anil Kumar, Joint Secretary Ms. Rohini R. Bhajibhakare and other senior officials of the Ministry and other stakeholders from various States/Union Territories and civil society organizations participated in this brain storming session.
The representatives gave important suggestions regarding the ambitious scheme of the Central Government. Shri Shivraj Singh Chauhan said that MNREGA is a very important scheme for our brothers and sisters; to improve the standard of living further, suggestions are being taken by communicating with the concerned people.
Union Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan stated in the discussion session that MNREGA is not just a scheme but an important means of stability and empowerment in the lives of millions of people in rural India.
During the time of Covid, MNREGA became a boon for the poor with the measures taken under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi. Due to the closure of factories, lakhs of people got livelihood through MNREGA.
The central government gives a huge amount of money to MNREGA, which should be utilized properly. The objectives for which this scheme is made should be fulfilled. Shri Chouhan added that when we make any plan, we do not just sit with the officials but we work by communicating with all the concerned people so that it is as effective as possible.
Even while being the Chief Minister in Madhya Pradesh, schemes for farmers, women and other sections were made by discussing with them and taking suggestions. Union Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan said that effective plans can be made by talking to the concerned people working on the ground.
Unless we discuss with them, we will not get the right feedback. Those working and monitoring can tell us better where the problems are at the ground level and what can be done better. Union Minister Shri Chouhan added that MNREGA is a big scheme which benefits the beneficiaries.
It has also been improved through technology, a lot of good work has been done, but still some complaints come up, which need to be resolved. This opportunity gives us an opportunity to strengthen our resolve for the development of rural India.
This discussion is a meaningful initiative towards empowering our rural India and improving this scheme. Today's discussion is an opportunity to give new suggestions and set a direction to make this scheme more effective.
During the session, various issues related to timely payment of wages, bottom-up planning, rights and entitlements under the scheme, use of technology, job card related issues, quality and monitoring of works and grievance redressal mechanism etc. were discussed.
Union Minister Shri Chouhan concluded the session by expressing gratitude to all stakeholders for their valuable contribution. He said that the suggestions received during the discussion would be useful in further improving MNREGA.
The brainstorming session is part of the Ministry’s larger efforts to align rural development schemes with the vision of a developed India by 2047, i.e. Amritkaal, under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi.
The session was attended by officials and representatives from states like Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Karnataka, Odisha, Haryana, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Meghalaya, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, West Bengal, along with labourers, farmers and many NGOs etc.
MNREGA provides employment to crores of workers - Through MNREGA, in this financial year so far, more than 6.7 crore workers from about 5 crore families across the country have been provided employment. More than half of the beneficiaries of MNREGA employment are women, which is an important step in the field of women empowerment.
Along with women, MNREGA has encouraged inclusive growth by benefiting the marginalized sections of the society such as Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes, which is vital for the all round development of our country.
Construction of permanent rural infrastructure - Under MNREGA, not only employment has been provided, but permanent rural infrastructure has also been constructed. Under this, various durable and productive assets related to infrastructure, social development and agricultural initiatives have been constructed for poor families and communities, thereby accelerating poverty alleviation, social inclusion and rural development. 9.39 crore assets have been constructed under MNREGA and in the current year, 63.4 lakh various durable and productive assets have been constructed.