JOIN USWell-digging scheme gets good response
The well-digging programme under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) to facilitate irrigation has received good response in the district with 2,634 wells have been dug during 2013-14.
According to the available statistics, 2,560 individual wells and 74 public wells have been dug during the financial year. An action plan was prepared for 7,110 individual wells and 188 public wells during 2013-14.
A total of 261 individual wells and seven public wells have been completed in Sullia taluk. The work on 161 individual wells and five public wells are in progress.
On the other hand, a total of 179 individual and four public wells have been completed. The work on 255 wells are in progress. Belthangady taluk has dug highest of 1,404 individual wells during the year. The work on 151 open wells are in prgress in the taluk. The work on 307 wells have been completed in Bantwal taluk and 724 open wells are in progress.
A total of 409 open individual wells have been completed in Mangalore taluk and the work on 269 individual wells and four public wells are in progress.
Speaking to Deccan Herald, MGNREGS Ombudsman Sheena Shetty said “Under MGNREGS, assets have been created, especially by digging wells. This has improved irrigation facilities and encouraged them to work in their land. By digging wells, dependence on borewell water will come down, and will also help in improving ground water table.”
The Ombudsman said Kolnadu GP has been a model in the district by taking up the work on 105 open wells within a short span of period. While observing Aksharotsava, 17 families had submitted applications for digging open individual wells. Seveneteen families took up the work and completed 12 wells as on December 31, 2013.
According to the MGNREGA rules, “the wells are to be dug on lands of farmers or those who do not own, who belong to the Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes; the category of small and marginal farmers and other groups approved under the scheme.
Beneficiary-land owners should be job card holders and only registered workers could be employed.” In fact, it was Kashipattana Gram Panchayat which became a prime example as how government schemes can be used to create assets under MGNREGS, by digging wells since its inception in the district.
100 days
A total of 828 persons have completed 100 days work in the district under MGNREGS during 2013-14. The job cards have been issued to 73,233 households and employment has been offered to 19,919 households with 49,895 persons.
The total man days completed during the year was 7,94,134 and a sum of Rs 18.76 crore has been utilised for taking up different works in the district.