6 Rajiv Gandhi seva kendra units ready in DK
They aim at providing office to carry out MGNREGS activities
Expanding the scope of work under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), the Centre has included the construction of Rajiv Gandhi Seva Kendra as a permissible activity under the Act, in its notification dated November 11, 2009 in all the Gram Panchayats.
Accordingly, in Dakshina Kannada, Kendra buildings have been completed in six gram panchayats. The work on three kendras are nearing completion. The Rajiv Gandhi Seva Kendra was sanctioned to 143 Gram Panchayats in Dakshina Kannada district. This include 42 in Bantwal, 30 in Belthangady, 37 in Mangalore, 22 in Puttur and 12 in Sullia.
The six completed Rajiv Gandhi Seva Kendras are at Sangabettu in Belthangady, Kadaba, Aithur, Markala and Ramakunja in Puttur taluk and Neriya in Belthangady. The three Kendras which are nearing completion are at Kashipattana, Laila and Balinja in Belthangady taluk.
Speaking to Deccan Herald, MGNREGA Ombudsman Sheena Shetty said the programme aims at providing a permanent office to carry out the activities related to MGNREGS. In fact, Employment Guarantee Day should be observed every week in the Gram Panchayat and the building can be utilised for the same. On Employment Guarantee Day, the Udyogamithra and other implementing officers should be present.
The objective of the programme is to provide dedicated offices in panchayats for efficient implementation of MGNREGS. It will work as the village knowledge resource centre and help in ensuring that the benefits of development reach out to the needy and the poor in rural areas. The Kendra will be a forum for the villagers and MGNREGS labourers to interact and exchange their experiences. It will also provide logistic support and record keeping facility.
The Kendra will also help in efficient implementation of MGNREGA at Panchayat level and in providing space for greater and more transparent interaction with the villagers. The Kendra should provide space for the labourers to exercise their rights under MGNREGS especially to submit applications for job cards, submit applications for work, complaint registration, use ICT facilities for scrutinising their rights and entitlements under MGNREGA.
The building will also be dedicated towards facilitating interactions with the MGNREGS workers. A sum of Rs 10 lakh can be utilised for the construction of the Kendra. In fact, in the recently concluded Vigilance Committee meeting held under the presidentship of MP Nalin Kumar Kateel, Zilla Panchayat Deputy Secretary Shivarame Gowda has directed all the Taluk Panchayat Executive Officers to take up the work on Rajiv Gandhi Seva Kendra in all the Gram Panchayats.
Committees
Sheena Shetty said that as per the MGNREGA, every gram panchayat should have social audit committee and every revenue village should have vigilance and monitoring committee, to monitor the work undertaken under MGNREGS. The Social Audit Committee should have five members and vigilance and monitoring committee will have nine members.
To make these committees active, a meeting was convened with the implementation officers recently, so that the funds meant for the MGNREGS are not misappropriated. The Ombudsman has given direction to the implementation officers to activate the committees and to install information boards or dynamic boards which has been made mandatory in all the Gram Panchayats under the Act.
