Joint Secy MGNREGA calls on Chief Minister

JAMMU: Joint Secretary (MGNREGA), Union Ministry of Rural Development, Aparajita Sarangi, who has been on a visit of the State, called on the Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti here today.

During the meeting, the Joint Secretary apprised the Chief Minister of the impressions of her visit. She said she was happy to see that the assets created under MGNREGA in the State have been of the best quality in the country. She said she attended some Gram Sabhas and inspected some works in the rural areas and actually found how the works are prioritized and how these are executed.

Ms. Sarangi informed the Chief Minister that MGNREGA is one of the top priority programmes of the Central Government for which the allocation has been raised from Rs 48000 crore to Rs 54000 crore this year and next year it is expected to be around Rs 55000 crore.

The Chief Minister impressed upon the Union Joint Secretary to ensure release of pending payments under MGNREGA to ensure that the works undertaken across the rural landscape of the State are carried uninterruptedly. She also asked for more fund flow to the State for developing rural infrastructure in line with the local environment and ecosystem.

Commissioner Secretary, Rural Development Department, Nirmal Sharma was also present on the occasion.