Panchayat and rural department creates 28.65 cr man days

In 2016-17, the target is 19 crore man days while by June end, the state government has achieved proportionate target of 3.5 crore man days.

It may be mentioned that West Bengal has bagged the best award in convergence under MGNREGA and the commissioner of Panchayat and Rural Development department Dibyendu Sarkar had gone to Delhi early this year to receive the award.

The officials of the department expressed concern over the way Centre was reducing the share in various projects. Earlier, in Pradhanmantri Gram Sadak Yojna the state and state’s share was 75: 25 and the state had to maintain rural roads.

Now, the Centre’s share is 60 and state’s share is 40 along with maintenance of the roads.The projects taken up under MGNREGA had transformed rural economy in many areas.

For example, in Nadia, women are earning Rs 47,000 annually by fish farming. The tanks where pisciculture is done, is dug up under MGNREGA and are given seeds by the state Fisheries department. 

Similarly, Self Help Groups run by women are running brick kilns where bricks from fly ash are produced in Bankura, Nadia and North 24 Parganas districts.

Even those who were suffering from leprosy and are cured now, are earning by developing orchard in Bankura district.

Also, 100 days work under the scheme has become very popular and is on the way of change rural economy.

It may be recalled that senior officials of Rural Development ministry had visited the state in early 

June and had appreciated the implementation of various schemes under MGNREGA.

The state government will hold Inter State Exchange Programme (ISEP) in November where it will showcase its good works.