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LATEST NEWS UPDATES | Fat purse with perform rider-Amit Gupta

Fat purse with perform rider-Amit Gupta

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published Published on Jun 5, 2013   modified Modified on Jun 5, 2013
-The Business Standard


Ranchi: Jharkhand could qualify for more funds than the Rs 1,500-crore earmarked as labour budget under MGNREGS, if the state pulled up its socks and honoured deadlines while executing the Centre's flagship scheme this fiscal.

The word came from Union rural development minister Jairam Ramesh who reviewed the job programme and action plans for Saranda and Sarju areas among other things at the Project Building in Ranchi today.

"Of the total labour budget under MGNREGS, we have already released Rs 360 crore as first instalment. But, the state has been able to utilise only Rs 108 crore. I have set a deadline of July 31 for utilisation of Rs 360 crore or even more. Funds will be no paucity and the Centre will be happy to allocate more than what is earmarked under the scheme, if the state performs and demands so," Ramesh said after his two-hour meeting with the state brass from 11am.

He praised the "splendid job" of constructing 90,000 wells under MGNREGS across the state, but pointed out that the labour budget of Andhra Pradesh alone was more than the cumulative figures of Bihar, Jharkhand and Odisha.

"In fact, the demand of employment in these states should be more. But, I feel low wage rate, delay in disbursing wages and administrative lethargy are deterrents," Ramesh told The Telegraph.

One for the road

Shifting focus to the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY), the Union minister has directed the state rural works department to ensure that tenders for all sanctioned roads under the scheme is completed by August 31.

"The department aims to build 2,000km of rural roads under PMGSY in 2013-14, involving a cost of Rs 1,200 crore," rural works principal secretary S.K. Satpathy said.

House that!

Under the Indira Awas Yojana, the Centre has so far approved proposals sent by 11 districts, while that of the remaining 13 are yet to be cleared. Ramesh said they would release the first instalment within the next couple of days.

Under this housing scheme, for a single dwelling unit there is provision of Rs 70,000, while it is Rs 5,000 more in the 17 rebel-hit districts.

Fair choice

Ramesh, who has been routinely touring the state, further said that he would approach nationalised banks for loans to women self-help groups involved in livelihood programmes at the rate of seven per cent per annum against the existing 14 per cent.

Mining bonus

During the meeting, the state brass - including governor's adviser Madhukar Gupta and chief secretary R.S. Sharma - told Ramesh that Jharkhand received mineral royalty of Rs 2,300 crore from the Centre, which is less given the pollution and eviction issues.

"There is a need to give incentives to the state and I will raise the matter with appropriate authorities (Planning Commission and finance minister)," Ramesh said.

Action plans

On Saranda's development, the Union minister said he planned to inaugurate the second road on July 6. Work on nine roads in the rebel purged region is underway. He asked officials concerned to ensure that the projects were completed by this year-end.

On Sarju Area Special Plan, Ramesh clarified that the Latehar district administration would take up construction of 27 rural roads.

Civil services hope

If Ramesh has his way, Ranchi will become a centre for UPSC mains. Currently, the capital hosts only the preliminary tests for the exam that selects IAS, IPS and IFS officers.


The Telegraph, 5 June, 2013, http://www.telegraphindia.com/1130605/jsp/frontpage/story_16972432.jsp#.Ua8Tl9jcjco


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