Bhubaneswar: The sixth meeting of State Employment Guarantee Council, constituted under Section 10 of Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), 2005 was held Thursday under the chairmanship of Panchayati Raj Minister Pratap Jena.
In the meeting, it was revealed that MGNREGA has made significant impact on livelihood security through durable assets and enhancement of income of the rural and vulnerable households by creating employment opportunities. Due to increase in work demands, the generation of person-days has been increased steadily over the years.
The state achieved 20 crore person days during financial year (FY) 2020-21 providing employment to 37.01 lakh households. Achieving this milestone was possible owing to close coordination among the districts as well as line departments.
In FY 2018-19, 0.47 lakh households have completed 100 days of MGNREGS work. It increased to 1.61 lakh in 2019-20 and 3.75 lakh in 2020-21. SC/ST and Women participation touched 49 per cent and 45 per cent in FY 2020-21.
In order to address distress migration in 20 migration-prone blocks, the state government has made provision of minimum wage rate of Rs 308 per person per day by topping up Rs 101 per person per day out of state Budget over the entitled wage of Rs 207 under MGNREGS and approval of additional 200 days of work in 20 migration-prone blocks.
There is a significant increase in employment generation with 2.10 crore person days covering 3.35 lakh households. Besides, 70,224 households completed 100 days, 31,667 completed 150 days, 9,368 completed 200 days and 59 completed 300 days in FY 2020-21.
Similar provision of minimum wage has been made in 6 DMF districts like Sundargarh, Angul, Jharsuguda, Mayurbhanj (3 blocks), Keonjhar and Jajpur.
During FY 2021-22, road maps for ensuring rural livelihoods and alleviating rural distress have been discussed with emphasis on natural resource management works and individual assistance with livelihood generation, and effective convergence with line departments.
The minister said, “Since MGNREGS has successfully achieved the milestone of 20 crore person days, and provided employment to migrant workers, all-out efforts should be made to implement the scheme effectively in FY 2021-22.”
The line departments should cooperate in the efforts to strengthen the livelihoods of rural poor, he added.
Focus activities like Renovation of traditional water bodies, Rural park, Play ground etc may be implemented.
The provision of minimum wage rate in other blocks of districts like that of 20 migration prone blocks and DMF districts may be explored for creation of more person days as well as development of the rural poor.