Panchayati Raj Department, OMEGA organize National Workshop
Bhubaneswar, Sep 3: The National Workshop on “Mahatma Gandhi NREGS: Convergence opportunities for enhancing livelihoods” was organized jointly by Panchayati Raj Department and Odisha Modernising Economy, Governance and Administration (OMEGA) Programme on 2nd September 2015 at Bhubaneswar.
The Workshop was inaugurated by Shri Arun Sahoo, Hon’ble Minister, Panchayati Raj, Odisha. Shri G.C. Pati, Chief Secretary Government of Odisha, Shri U.N. Behera, Development Commissioner along with Secretary Panchayati Raj and OMEGA representatives were also present in the inaugural session. Addressing the delegates in the opening session, Minister Panchayat Raj said that convergence had been the top most agenda of the government to create durable assets at the ground which could engage the rural households beyond the stipulated 100 days of the employment in MGNREGS.
He also added during his speech that, Odisha is one of the most backward and poor states of India where a program like MGNREGA has to be implemented extensively to support the poor people and revive the economy. Also during the address, chief secretary mentioned the importance of the workshop as the whole country is talking about durable assets, livelihoods etc under MGNREGS. During the opening session, secretary Panchayati raj also highlighted the measures taken by OMEGA in enhancing the access of vuonerble groups like migrant households, Particularly vulnerable tribal groups (PVTGS), women etc to MGNREGS.
The workshop was attended by delegates from Rajasthan, Sikkim, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Kerala who shared their experience in implementing the Mahatma Gandhi NREGA Scheme in a convergence mode.
With an objective to convert MGNREGS works to livelihoods through convergence and scope for enhancing the access of vulnerable groups to MGNREGS, the workshop was organized. The basic thought process underlying MGNREGA is to create employment opportunities for the rural and semi-urban unskilled poor in course of development of sustainable assets related to land, water and forests, whereby, after the construction activities are completed, the workers can engage themselves in agriculture and allied activities to take advantage of the good quality land and water. The initiatives of Kapildhara in Madhya Pradesh, convergence initiatives of Rajasthan, women participation in Keralar, tamil Nadu were presented in the workshop.
Secretaries and Directors from line Departments, District Collectors from 9 Districts and Project Directors, DRDA from 28 Districts participated in the workshop.