Rozgar Sahayaks from different States met Union Minister for Rural Development Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan in Bhopal on Monday and expressed their gratitude to him for increasing the administrative expenditure from 6% to 9%. On this occasion, Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan said that the delay in timely payment of salaries to employment assistants, panchayat secretaries and technical staff had been a major concern, and that an important decision to increase administrative expenditure has been taken to address this.

Union Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan said that earlier administrative expenditure was 6%, which has now been increased to 9%, that is, it has been raised by one and a half times. The direct benefit of this will be that, out of the total proposed budget of ₹1,51,282 crore, more than ₹13,000 crore will be earmarked for salaries of employees and administrative requirements. The Union Minister said this amount will be sufficient to meet salary payments of staff and it will be ensured that there is no wastage of any kind in administrative expenditure. Shri Shivraj Singh said strict monitoring will be done to prevent spending on jeeps, vehicles or other unnecessary heads. He said Rozgar Sahayaks had flagged problems of delayed and withheld salaries, after which provisions were made in the rules that salaries must be paid first and other essential expenses only thereafter. For this, necessary directions will be issued in coordination with the States.

Union Minister for Rural Development Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan said that unlike under MGNREGA, there is now a legal guarantee of 125 days of employment instead of 100 days. At the same time, keeping in view the agricultural peak season, state governments have been given the authority to issue notifications allowing workers to be deployed in agricultural work for up to 60 days during sowing and harvesting seasons, so that farmers do not have to face a shortage of labour. Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan said that efforts have been made to make the VB-G RAM G scheme more practical and effective by removing old shortcomings. By increasing administrative expenditure, a concrete step has been taken to reduce the difficulties of colleagues working at the grassroots. Shri Shivraj Singh also told the employment assistants that this message must be properly communicated down the line and assured them that, after discussing their suggestions with the State Governments, further improvements will continue to be made so that staff working at the panchyat level.

The Minister said that the ‘Viksit Bharat-G RAM G’ is a historic scheme, which has now moved beyond being a bill and has become an Act after the President’s assent. Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan said that some people are trying to create confusion about this scheme, but it is important to understand the truth and ensure that correct information reaches every village.

Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan said that under MGNREGA, there was earlier a guarantee of 100 days of employment, which has been increased to 125 days under the ‘Viksit Bharat Rozgar Yojana’. He said this is not just an increase in days, but a further strengthening of the guarantee of employment. If for any reason employment is not provided, the provision of unemployment allowance has been made much more robust than before. He said strict provisions have also been made regarding payment of wages. If wages are not paid within 15 days and the amount remains pending, the worker will be paid additional compensation. It will no longer be acceptable for wages to remain stuck for months. Timely payment of wages has been ensured. The current wage rates will continue and wages will increase every year.

The Union Minister said that under this scheme, four types of works will be undertaken. The first category includes works related to water conservation and saving water, such as ponds, check dams and other structures. The second category includes works to basic village infrastructure such as schools, hospitals, Anganwadi centres, roads, drains and other facilities will be carried out. Necessary infrastructure for women associated with the livelihood mission and for FPOs will also be included. The third category of works will be livelihood-based activities that help in expanding employment, while the fourth will include works related to protection from natural disasters, such as retaining walls, drainage systems and structures linked to rivers and streams.

Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan said that it is the Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision that development works should be visible on the ground. Under the Viksit Gram Panchayat Yojana, all plans will be prepared through collective deliberation and the village itself will decide the course of its development.

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PK/KC/MK