Panchayats dept fixes creation of mandays at 25 crore, to ensure jobs for 10L families

The decision was taken at a high-level meeting attended by all senior officials of the department and it has been communicated to all the District Magistrates, secretary Gorkha Territorial Administration (GTA), Siliguri Mahakuma Parishad.

The Panchayats will have to ensure livelihood for 10 lakh families, mainly women associated with Self-Help Groups under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) scheme. Thus, every gram panchayat will have to make provision for livelihood of 300 families on an average. Every Panchayat will have to take steps or revival of rivers that have dried up. Stress will be laid on aforestation and maintenance of trees.

After coming to power in 2011, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has given emphasis on rural development and in the past seven years, Bengal has made remarkable progress in the construction of rural roads and 100 days' work under the MGNREGA. South 24-Parganas has become number 1 in 100 days' work in the country. The announcement was made by Mamata Banerjee at the administrative review meeting of the district on Monday.

Major steps have been taken to increase the green cover. It is for the first time that the Panchayats and Rural Development department has specified the deadline for aforestation and plantation of trees.

The specific deadline issued for plantation of trees is: In January, steps should be taken to identify the spots where trees will be planted. In February, the pits will be prepared while in March disinfectants will be sprayed in the pits along with erection of fences. In April, manures will be procured followed by filling up of the pits with them in May. In June – July, saplings will be planted and they should be watered properly. In August, the dead saplings will be replaced with fresh ones. From September, normal maintenance will begin. Senior officials said if this schedule is followed then it will be easier for the Panchayats to grow plants.

Stress has been laid on thematic planation in 2018-19 that includes fruits, flowers, aromatic plants, grass and pasture, industrial plantation, medicinal plants and the like.

The industrial plantation includes growing of coffee, tea, rubber, bamboo, vetiver, lemon grass etc.

Measures will have to be taken to produce fodder. Stress has been laid on regular supervision to ensure proper implementation of the projects is carried out.