Union Minister of State for Power, K.C. Venugopal said that a Central team to study the possibility of including coir sector under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) will reach the State on May 21.
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Speaking to reporters after chairing a meeting to review the progress of Centrally-sponsored projects in the district here on Saturday, Mr. Venugopal said that the team will visit various places from May 21 to 24. The meeting also recommended to the State Government to fix the work time of MGNREGS from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
A social auditing to review the progress of works under the MGNREGS will be conducted. Kanjikuzhy block panchayat president, D. Priyesh Kumar, Thaneermukkom grama panchayat president, Padmavathiamma, Gandhi Grama Seva Kendram secretary, K.G. Jagadeeshan and officials will be members of a committee to conduct such an audit on the renovation of ponds under the scheme.
He said that efforts were on to increase the wages under MGNREGS to Rs 200. Labour budget of Rs 134 crore has been prepared under the scheme for the year 2012-13. The Centre will be urged to increase the contribution of the Indira Awas Yojana, a housing project for BPL families. The lead bank manager has been asked to submit the report on the loan disbursed as per this scheme following complaints that the banks have been asking for collateral, flouting Government norms in this regard, he said.
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