CRM applauds Odisha for excellent works in Rural Development & Skill Training
Central Common Review Mission (CRM) applauded the State for excellent works in rural housing, rural roads, MG NREGS and skill development training. The mission team led by Chairman Sri Summit Bose, after 3 days field visit to various blocks and villages had a wrap up meeting with Chief Secretary Sri Aditya Prasad Padhi and Secretary P.R. Sri Deoranjan Kumar Singh in State Secretariat today.
The members of the team mentioned, “We are extremely enthused to see the works done in rural housing”. The programme implementation has own people’s confidence and a large number of houses have been completed”. Chief Secretary Sri Padhi said, “housing for all is a priority agenda of State Govt and Govt. is making all out efforts to make the programme successful at ground level”.
Secretary P.R. Sri Singh mentioned that around 10 lakh houses for rural poor have been constructed during 2014-15 & 2015-16 with direct involvement of beneficiaries themselves. As per SECC data around 44 lakh priority households have been identified to be covered under the scheme. It has been targeted to construct around 5 lakh houses each year. Chief Secretary Sri Padhi said, “the landless persons are being enlisted to be included in it . The landless would be provided homestead land under the Basundhara scheme so as to make them eligible for rural housing programme . Govt aims at prioritizing poorest of the poor in this scheme”.
The team also expressed their satisfaction about construction of PMGSY roads connecting high ways with villages . They said, “we went up to village level to see the quality and quantum of work. The performance was excellent”. Available data show, a total number of 9372 Nos of PMGSY roads stretching over 36,168 Kms of have been completed in the State up to 31 st March, 2016. A total amount of around Rs.14930cr has been invested in it.
Presently, the programme is being implemented with 60:40 funding share between Central and State Govt. Chief Secretary Sri Padhi said that State would make appropriate budget provision for maintenance of the PMGSY roads. Sources say, around 150cr. has been provided under the State budget so for maintenance of these roads.
The team commended the convergence of MGNREGS with various programmes like horticulture, forestry, animal husbandry, rural livelihood mission, dug wells, agriculture etc. at the ground level and said that many innovative practices of convergence were also being followed. Secretary Sri Singh mentioned that around Rs. 1200cr of MGNREGS funds has been converged with various State and Central Govt. schemes. Chief Secretary Sri Padhi said that there would be more focus on this convergence in current financial year
The team also looked in to implementation of the programmes like Din Dayal Upadhaya Grameen Kausal Yojona (DDUGKY), public distribution system, electrification, internet connectivity, reduction of IMR & MMR, management of malnutrition etc. and expressed their satisfaction about the outcomes of these programmes. They maintained that the skill development training under DDUGKY in IT, Computer, retailing etc. were qualitative and trained youths also were being provided placements. Secretary, Panchayat Raj Sri Singh said that around 35,000 youths have been trained under the scheme this year .
The team suggested the need for extending internet connectivity to G.P. level. Chief Secretary Sri Padhi said that presently the connectivity has been established up to block level and steps are being taken to extend it to G.P. level. The four member team visited various blocks and villages in Ganjam and Mayurbhanj districts.