In spite of being the lone city for National Urban Livelihood Mission in the district, GVMC is not in a position to launch the livelihood centres it proposed.
The eight livelihood centres, one for each of the zones is proposed with a cost of Rs.10 lakh each and a blue print prepared with a detailed project report and sent to the State Government. The cost, for the centres to come up in municipalities above one lakh population, will be borne by the Central Government.
The livelihood centres will improve the skills of workers like electricians, plumbers, painters etc and more importantly, provide such services to citizens. Even as the proposals were sent to the government, the General Election schedule was announced bringing the Model Code of Conduct into force.
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With the bifurcation, the committee of officials that decides the grant had lapsed. Now a new committee comprising the Principal Secretary, Municipal Administration, the Mission Director, Mission for Elimination of Poverty in Municipal Areas (MEPMA) and the GVMC Commissioner has to be constituted to clear the proposal.
“If the proposal is cleared, sanction of funds will be done by the government,” says an informed official.
The then MEPMA Project Director B. Panduranga Rao went to Pune in January to study the implementation there, did a thorough study and sent a detailed proposal on how GVMC plans to go about setting up the livelihood centres. In Pune, the centres worked on co-operative basis and registered as societies.
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But with the division of all-India services a new MEPMA Director has to be appointed to take the proposal forward. Though the sum involved is relatively less, Rs.80 lakh for the eight centres, the motion of formal approval seems to be delaying its launch.