SHILLONG:
Minister in-charge Community & Rural Development, Hamletson Dohling, on September 12, said that the Centre has allowed implementation of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Schemes (MGNREGS) in census towns in the state.
Replying in the Assembly, Dohling said he has taken up the matter with the Centre requesting the need to extend the implementation of the MGNREGS to census towns.
This was after receiving many requests from the legislators following the successful implementation of the schemes in rural areas.
“I have submitted two DO letters to the Union Minister and I am happy to inform that he has responded positively that the scheme can also be implemented in the census towns of the state,” Dohling said.
Quoting the content of the letter from the ministry, the minister however said, “MGNREGA can operate (only) in census towns that have not been declared as urban bodies and cantonments…”
To a query raised by Mawlai legislator, PT Sawkmie, Dohling said that the scheme will soon be implemented in the Mawlai census town.
Implementing of the scheme in 13 out of 15 localities under Mawlai census town is being examined, he added.
When Umroi legislator George B Lyngdoh sought clarification on the delay to clear pending dues to the village employment councils (VECs), the minister said that clear instruction has been given to all the BDOs to clear the pending dues to the VECs.
“Whenever fund is available with the department, BDOs are asked to clear the pending dues immediately,” he said. According to him, there are bills pending since 2018 and effort is being made to clear the same at the earliest.
Earlier, Dohling informed that during the current financial year, the total fund available is Rs 741.27 crore and the expenditure incurred on wages is Rs 107.46 crore and Rs 316.63 crore on material component.
He said the central government has cut some percentage of the MGNREGS in the state during the current year.
He also informed that that total pending bills for materials in East Khasi Hills district is Rs 40.47 crore.