Eminent citizen AK Jain, who has been deputed to strengthen the implementation of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, 2005 (MG-NREGA) in Kokrajhar district expressed satisfaction over the progress of the scheme in Kokrajhar district and rated it as one of the best in Assam.
Jain, who has been extensively visiting the sites of implementation of MG-NREGA since June 24 last expressed his satisfaction over the implementation of the project in the district. Briefing mediapersons at the Circuit House in Kokrajhar recently, Jain said since its inception in 2006, the MG-NREGA scheme has provided employment to about 1.70 lakh job card holders in Kokrajhar district. He said during 2008-2009 and 2009-10, about Rs 200 crore and Rs 157 crores respectively was spent.
Jain added that about Rs 850 crore have been invested in various rural development schemes during the last four years which means an expenditure of Rs 50,000 per family. Jain, meanwhile, has asked the officials to expedite the planning of works for 2010-2011 and prepare a comprehensive district development plan and block level action plan. He also emphasized the need of convergence of several schemes of rural development through coordinated and integrated development plan and better horizontalization among various departments.
Jain suggested for the developing of Standard Operating Procedure (SOPs) for awareness, publicity, public participation, records, audit, project execution, monitoring, payment etc. He also asked the engineers to adopt better specification for roads, together with proper carpeting side drains and electrification. He also suggested putting standardized name boards for all MG-NREGA projects and also naming boards for all the villages.