Schemes never ending, MGNREGA failing

In eight years, 1,08,158 out of 2,72,008 schemes undertaken in Assam yet to be completed  

BY OUR STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI, Aug 7: Many schemes taken up since 2006 under the country’s largest anti–poverty scheme Mahatma Gandhi tiol Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) in Assam have remained incomplete. Several such schemes are still ongoing in the State.

According to records, the State has taken up a total of 2,72,008 schemes under MGNREGA from 2006-07 to 2015-16, but of the total schemes undertaken, 1,63,850 schemes were completed and 1,08,158 schemes are still ongoing in different parts of the State.

In 2006-07 when MGNREGA was launched, the Assam government took up 12,384 schemes which were completed, but works of many schemes taken up in 2007-08 are still going on, revealing the callousness of successive State governments.

Quite surprisingly, out of several schemes taken up under MGNREGA in 2007-08, 849 schemes are yet to be completed in the State even after 8 years. In 2008-09, out of total 11,863 schemes taken up under MGNREGA by the Assam government, 1,679 schemes are yet to be completed.

The poor rate of completion of the works clearly points to the fact that MGNREGA, aimed at eradicating rural poverty and unemployment, has utterly failed in the State. It has also failed to create sustaible assets or to contribute to the development of rural economy. In the previous Congress government, Chandan Brahma and Rockybul Hussain served as Panchayat and Rural Development ministers. The poor implementation of the scheme in Assam exposes the utter lack of seriousness of the State Panchayat and Rural Development department.     

The Mahatma Gandhi tiol Rural Employment Guarantee Act aims at enhancing the livelihood security of people in rural areas by guaranteeing hundred days of wage–employment in a fincial year to a rural household whose adult members volunteer to do unskilled manual work.

Now, it is the turn of the Sarbanda Sonowal-led State government to implement the flagship scheme of the Centre in letter and spirit.