Dimapur, June 8: The convergence of the Local Area Development Program (LADP) and the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGA) could not be ‘due to technical reasons,’ the Dimapur district development board has been informed.
The monthly meeting of the District Planning and Development Board of Dimapur district for the month of June was convened on June 6 in the conference hall of the deputy commissioner of Dimapur. The Parliamentary Secretary for Irrigation & Flood Control Jacob Zhimomi presided over the meeting.
During the meeting, Zhimomi briefed the officials on the reallocation of convergence fund under the Local Area Development program (LADP) for 2015-2016. The politician, also chairman of the district planning and development board, informed that during 2015-2016 an amount of Rs.600.00 lakh at the rate of Rs.10 lakh per constituency was set aside from the LADP fund to ‘take up convergence activities under MGNREGA Act.’
Regretting that the convergence of the LADP and the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGA) could not materialize ‘due to technical reasons,’ Jacob informed the house that the fund has been reverted to LADP. This will enable taking up schemes and projects as per the LADP’s guidelines, he said.
In this respect, the Board after examining the schemes submitted by the five Assembly Constituencies approved the schemes amounting to Rs.10 lakh against each Assembly Constituency against the reallocation of convergence fund under LADP during 2015 -2016.
Other agendas discussed in the meeting included up gradation of Springfield School, Ruzaphema Block III where the board recommended the same basing on the records and inspection reports given by the concerned administrative officer and also by the Education department.
The board also approved for grant in-aid to eight schools namely St. John Higher Secondary Residential School of Dimapur, Woodstock School of Padumpukhuri in Dimapur, Dovecot Christian School of Chumukedima in Dimapur, Assemblies of God English School at Diphupar B in Dimapur, St. Joseph Higher Secondary in Chumukedima of Dimapur, St. Anthony School of Tenyiphe in Dimapur, St. Teresas Little Kingdom School in Dimapur and Nazareth High School of Purana Bazaar in Dimapur.
As entrusted, the medical department also gave their departmental report during the meeting. The board entrusted Industries department and Sericulture department to give their departmental presentation in the next meeting of the board.
MGNREGA
The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Guarantee Act (NREGA) was notifies in September 7, 2005 but this Act is implemented in Ludhiana District in 2008. The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (hereafter MGNREGA) is a law whereby any adult who applies for employment in rural areas has to be given work on local public works within 15 days. If employment is not given, an unemployment allowance has to be paid.
The employment guarantee subject to a limit of 100 days per household per year. Not that MGNREGA is a law and not just a scheme. The main objective of NREGA is to protect rural households from poverty and hunger. MGNREGA can also serve other objectives: Generating productive assets, protecting the environment, empowering Women, reducing rural urban migration and fostering social equity among others. Thus MGNREGA is not just an employment scheme: it is a tool of economic and social change in rural areas.
LAPD
Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS) is a scheme formulated by Government of India on 23 December 1993 that provides that each member of parliament of India has the choice to suggest to the head of the district works to the tune of `5 crore (US$740,000) per year, to be taken up in his/her constituency. Initially, this scheme was administered by Ministry of Rural Development.
Later, in October 1994, the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MOSPI) has been looking into its working. Elected Members of Rajya Sabha representing the whole of the State as they do, may select works for implementation in one or more district(s) as they may choose. Nominated Members of the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha may also select works for implementation in one or more districts, anywhere in the country.
The allocation per MP per year stands increased to `2 crore (US$300,000) from the year 1998-1999 which has been further enhanced to `5 crore (US$740,000) from the year 2011.[1] It also allows MPs to spend up to `10 lakh (US$15,000) in any other constituency in India. (Input: Wikipedia)
