Yogi govt sets all-time record in MGNREGS man days generation
The Uttar Pradesh government has set an all-time record by generating about 35.47 crore man days under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) during 2020-21. The state is further moving ahead to cross even the revised target of 40 crore man days by March, 2021.
An official communiqué released on Tuesday confirmed that the record man days generation had not only enhanced the prospects of employment in the rural areas but also resulted in construction of toilets, digging of ponds and other constructions changing the face of villages to a large extent.
The emphasis of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on the development of villages bore fruits as it served the dual purpose of development and employment generation, the release added.
“The pro-active steps taken by the Yogi government in this regard helped the cause of 40 lakh migrant workers who returned during the Covid days as they were provided jobs in MGNREGS works in a big way. It had also earned praise from all quarters,” the release mentioned.
In fact, more than one crore labourers of 85 lakh families in 74 districts of UP were given work during the year compared to MGNREGS work to 53 lakh families during 2019-20, a huge rise in number of beneficiaries families post-Covid.
The communiqué said that it was quite an achievement considering that this was achieved during Covid period, mitigating the fear of labourers losing livelihood during the coronavirus pandemic.
The initial target for UP was fixed at 26 crore man days in 2020-21, which was surpassed by nine crore man days, motivating the government to revise it upward to 40 crore man days by March 2021.
As per the official statistics, as on February 12, UP has set a record in the country by creating 35.47 crore man days, giving employment to 37 lakh women and 73.50 lakh men. A total of Rs 7,303.85 crore was paid as wages to MGNREGA workers during 2020-21 so far against the expenditure of Rs 9,717.15 crore.
With regards to development works in the villages under MGNREGS, as many as 19,951 ponds were dug while construction of 18,206 animal shelters, 15,441 Anganwadi centres and rejuvenation of 25 rivers has taken place. In addition to this, more than 56,000 community toilets and 6,020 goat sheds have been built while 24,655 sheds are under construction.
In another landmark, Uttar Pradesh is the first state to have MGNREGS labourers registered with the Labour Department. The labourers having done a minimum of 100 days work in MNREGA scheme will get registered and get benefits of 17 various government schemes, including Meritorious Student Award Scheme, Nirmaan Kamgar Balika Madad Yojana, Health Facility Scheme, Kanya Vivah Yojana for themselves and their families. The Labour Department has set a target of 20 lakh labourers getting registered by March 31, 2021.
UP is likely to receive three awards at national level in MGNREGS highest man days, maximum payment of wages and largest number of permanent construction made.
