Odisha’s Rural Projects Get CRM Applaud

BHUBANESWAR: Central Common Review Mission (CRM) applauded Odisha for excellent works in rural housing, rural roads, MGNREGS and skill development training.

After 3 days field visit to various blocks and villages, the mission team led by Chairman Summit Bose had a wrap up meeting with Chief Secretary Aditya Prasad Padhi and Panchayati Raj Secretary Deoranjan Kumar Singh on Monday.

The members of the team mentioned, “We are extremely enthused to see the works done in rural housing. The programme implementation has own people’s confidence, and a large number of houses have been completed”.

Chief Secretary Padhi said, “Housing for all is a priority agenda of state government, and it is making all out efforts to make the programme successful at ground level.”

Singh mentioned that around 10 lakh houses for rural poor had been constructed during 2014-15 and 2015-16 with the direct involvement of beneficiaries themselves.

As per SECC data around 44 lakh priority households have been identified to be covered under the scheme.   It has been targeted to construct around 5 lakh houses each year.

Chief Secretary Padhi said, “The landless persons are being enlisted to be included in it. The landless would be provided homestead land under the Basundhara scheme so as to make them eligible for the rural housing programme. The government aims at prioritizing   poorest of the poor in this scheme”.

The team also expressed their satisfaction about the construction of PMGSY roads connecting highways with villages. They said, “We went up to village level to see the quality and quantum of work.  The performance was excellent”.

The available data show, a total number of 9372 Nos of PMGSY roads stretching over 36,168 Kms of having been completed in the State up to 31st March 2016. A total amount of around Rs.14930cr has been invested in it. Presently, the programme is being implemented with 60:40 funding share between Central and State government.

Padhi said that state would make appropriate budget provision for maintenance of the PMGSY roads.

 Sources said, around 150 crores has been provided under the State budget so for maintenance of these roads.

The team commended the convergence of MGNREGS with various programmes like horticulture, forestry, animal husbandry, rural livelihood mission, dug wells, agriculture, etc. at the ground level and said that many innovative practices of convergence were also being followed.

Panchayati raj secretary mentioned that around Rs. 1200cr of MGNREGS funds has been converged with various State and Central government schemes.

Chief Secretary said that there would be more focus on this convergence in the current financial year also.

The team also looked into implementation of the programmes like Din Dayal Upadhaya Grameen Kausal Yojana (DDUGKY), public distribution system, electrification, internet connectivity, reduction of IMR & MMR, management of malnutrition, etc. and expressed their satisfaction with the outcomes of these programmes.

They maintained that the skill development training under DDUGKY in IT, Computer, retailing, etc. were qualitative and trained youths also were being provided placements.

Singh said that around 35,000 youths had been trained under the scheme this year.

The team suggested the need for extending internet connectivity to Gram Panchayat level. Chief Secretary Padhi said that presently the connectivity had been established up to block level and steps are being taken to extend it to G.P. level.

The four-member team visited various blocks and villages in Ganjam and Mayurbhanj districts.