2 DK women selected for MGNREGS Sammelan in Delhi
They will share their experiences under the scheme
For the first time after Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) was implemented in Dakshina Kannada district, two women from Dakshina Kannada are flying to New Delhi to be a part of Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) Sammelan scheduled to be held on February 2 at Vigyan Bhavan in New Delhi.
‘MGNREGA Sammelan’ is an effort to provide a national forum to all key stakeholders to come together for mutual inspiration, recognition and reaffirmation of commitment to Mahatma Gandhi NREGA. It not only highlights the effective implementation of the Act in States and measures adopted by the Ministry to enhance accountability but also showcases innovative works done by districts, said a letter from N Muruganandam, Joint Secretary(MGNREGA) to all the Principal Secretaries/Secretaries of Rural Development of the State government.
The conference is for the workers who have completed 100 days of work under MGNREGS and a representative of Panchayat institution. The selected two women from the district are MGNREGS labourer Girija from Manila village in Peruvai Gram Panchayat and Premalatha, President of Vittla Mudnoor Gram Panchayat.
Girija will also share her experience of working under MGNREGS before UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi’s address on the occasion.
Speaking to Deccan Herald, Peruvai Gram Panchayat President Rajesh Balekallu said Girija who hails from a very poor Scheduled Tribe family has completed 100 days work in the Gram Panchayat limits.
She is the resident of Manila. In fact, it was Girija who was responsible for motivating villagers to take up public work under MGNREGS in the Gram Panchayat limits last year. She had formed a team with 15 members to take up the work. In fact, with the motivation from her team’s work, about six teams have come up in the Gram Panchayat jurisdiction to take up public work under MGNREGS.
He said Girija was involved in repairing mud roads in the village, construction of storm water drains, rain water percolation ponds in forest land, leveling the playground of anganwadi centers and others.
She is the bread winner of her family, which consists of her parents. The MGNREGS has given strength to supplement her family and take care of her parents. She has studied upto SSLC.
Vittla Mudnoor Gram Panchayat President Premalatha said that the invitation to visit New Delhi was unexpected. “I am happy that my name was selected for taking part in conference of MGNREGA. Even if we want to go to New Delhi, it would not have been possible for me. But the authorities have given me an opportunity.”
“We have constructed retaining wall, planted cashew saplings and took up other work under MGNREGS. All the work were carried out transparently in the Gram Panchayat,” she said. She has studied up to sixth standard and is into tailoring as well. “I am traveling by flight for the first time in my life. It is thrilling but also scary at the same time. I will be leaving for New Delhi on February 1 while Girija will be leaving on January 31,” she says
