Bhubaneswar Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today provided special co-ordinated assistance to the workers engaged in the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Guaranteed Employment Scheme in the state.
The workers, who worked during the three months from April to June, were paid an additional 50 rupees per day. It is credited to the beneficiary’s bank account.
As a result, each worker receives an additional wage of up to Rs 4,500. A total of 3.2 million workers received Rs 352 crore.
Addressing the gathering through video conferencing, Chief Minister Mr.Patnaik said that there is always a special place in my heart for the poor. Revealing that such efforts will continue for the poor, the Chief Minister directed the district administration to create more labor days at the district level and provide employment to the poor.
In the second wave of Covid, the Chief Minister has announced a special Covid assistance of Rs 180 crore to alleviate the plight of the poor. It also provides Rs 352 crore for workers.
MGNREGS created 20 crore labor days last year, while this year it has created 6 crore labor days and aims to create 25 crore labor days by the end of the year.
“During the last one year, the poorest of the poor have lost their livelihoods due to the lockdown,” he said. He said the state government had announced a Rs 180 crore package for farmers, workers, dairy farmers and upscale shopkeepers, taking into account the livelihoods of the people. He encouraged ordinary people as well to take part in solving this great task: “One of the things you and other people can do is to keep up the pressure … there are going to be some difficult decisions for government”.
On the occasion, Panchayati Raj Minister Pratap Jena highlighted the various measures taken by the state government for the poor peasant workers. He said the chief minister’s move would strengthen the rural economy.
MGNREGS workers from 314 blocks of the state were connected to the event by video conferencing. Nikki Amma and Kailash Gowda of Ganjam, Suresh Bakhia of Koraput, Tapan Kumar Nag, Siti Pujari of Kalahandi and Ghaz Majhi and Shivaram Soren and Sukanti Murmu of Mayurbhanj, among others, expressed their gratitude to the Chief Minister for the assistance. They thanked the Chief Minister for the assistance, which would help them during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Chief Minister’s Secretary (5 T) VK Pandian conducted the program which was attended by Chief Secretary Suresh Chandra Mohapatra, Development Commissioner, Agricultural Production Commissioner, District Mgistrates and senior officials of various districts.