Govt to train 10,000 ‘barefoot’ technicians MGNREGA

Union Minister for Rural Development Birender Singh on Tuesday said the government aims to “train 10,000 ‘barefoot’ technicians in civil engineering to ensure the better execution of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) in 2,500 most backward blocks.” 

The minister said the technicians would be “trained in basic concepts of civil engineering and be involved in planning, layout, measuring and supervising MGNREGA works in 2,500 most backward blocks across India.”

He added: “A barefoot technician is an educated person, identified from the local SC/ST MGNREGA worker’s households and specially trained in civil engineering concepts, using the customised training modules.” 

Singh said: “Better training and skill development will not only help create durable and good quality works but also more sustainable maintenance of assets. It will also provide employment and will give horizontal and vertical mobility to these young women and men, especially to those from vulnerable sections of society.”

Similarly, to improve maintenance of the large PMGSY rural roads network (4,50,000 km of PMGSY roads have been constructed across the country since the inception of PMGSY scheme in December 2000), the training manuals for field engineers and contractors have already been used in the training of over 6,000 engineers and contractors across the country in the last four months. 

Singh renewed the government’s commitment to eliminate poverty by empowering the rural poor with initiatives for inclusion and <g data-gr-id="24">empowerment,</g> while ensuring quality and sustainability of assets.

Earlier in the day, deputy director-general of the International Labour Organization (ILO), Sandra <g data-gr-id="27">Polaski,</g> jointly launched a set of new training manuals developed in collaboration with the ministry for – MGNREGA and PMGSY.

The Ministry of Rural Development and ILO have also collaborated to pilot new and innovative ways of maintaining rural roads through simplified procedures. These ground-level initiatives, involving local communities and contractors, to maintain roads in rural areas will enhance employment opportunities and improve the assets built.