Small and marginal farmers have reason to cheer, as the Central government has decided to construct small tanks, wells and even horticulture plantations in their fields under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA).
Sources in the divisional commissionerate said the government has amended the act to include even small and marginal farmers belonging to backward community, including SC/ST, especially those holding farms smaller than two acres. These farmers will now be eligible for the benefits of land development, irrigation and horticulture plantation on their own land.
A senior official from the commissionerate confirmed the development. The officer said that to select the beneficiaries, the gram panchayat will conduct a survey of small and marginal farmers in all villages. The proposals would be sent to the panchayat samiti, from where it would be forwarded to the zilla parishad for their approval. Finally, the divisional commissionerate would select eligible farmers where NREGA would construct small tanks and even wells as per the demands of the poor farmers.
Sources said the state principal secretary of NREGA V Rajgiri has expressed concern over poor implementation of NREGA works in Nagpur division. "In some rural areas, NREGA works are badly hampered due to non-performance of gram panchayats," he said.
Interestingly, the government has diverted Rs 2.5 crore from Nagpur`s NREGA funds to clear a shortfall of funds in Naxal-infested Gadchiroli.