Ministry of Rural Development launches Kaam Mango Abhiyan under MGNREGA

The Ministry of Rural Development has launched a “Kaam Mango Abhiyan” last week to proactively register demand in select districts of the country. Shri JairamRamesh, Minister, Rural Development has written to chief ministers of the six states last week urging states to use the opportunity to’ motivate all stakeholders in realizing the benefits conferred under the Act’ and ‘create good models that can benefit large number of poor households’. He has urged Chief Ministers to personally lead this effort and extend it to all districts of these states. Chief Minister of Jharkhand Shri Hemant Soren has already flagged off theabhiyan recently with several MGNREGA workers and civil society representatives present. The Ministry recognises that the decline in people demanding work under MGNREGA is not because of a lack of demand but because of a failure to capture demand effectively. This campaign therefore seeks to increase awareness around the entitlements of MGNREGA and increase participation in the programme by fulfilling the guarantee of employed against demand. For the coming month, the focus will be on six districts in the country –Sitapur (Uttar Pradesh), Nashik (Maharashtra), Raichur (Karnataka), Katihar(Bihar), West Singhbum (Jharkhand) and Sundergarh (Odisha). This will present a model for a nationwide campaign that will be launched on 2nd February 2014, MGNREGA Day. The abhiyan will be a collaborative effort with district, state and central government, NREGA workers and civil society organisations. In this duration an attempt will be made to reach out to every ward/habitation and give people an opportunity to register their demand for NREGA work. Multiple modes to capture demand will be utilised. It will involve training of officials, mass awareness drives via padyatras and institutionalizing monthly “Rozgar Diwas in everypanchayat as an opportunity for people to register their demand and grievances. Demand will be anticipated and capacity will be built for increased responsiveness of the administration.  Through this campaign, the Ministry of Rural Development invites the active support and facilitation of all sections of society including civil societyorganisations, district administration, state administration, students, media, academics and most importantly NREGA workers. The Ministry will be monitoring figures of demand as reflected on the official MGNREGA website. Jharkhand Kaam Maango Abhiyan Launch The Kaam Maango Abiyan was launched in Jharkhand in Chaibasa district recently by Shri Hemant Soren, Chief Minister of Jharkhand during the ongoingVikas Mela. With over 2000 people present, the Chief Minister directed the administration to implement the abhiyan in its true spirit. The Chief Minister personally registered demand of twenty workers by accepting the application and handing over receipts. These accepted applications were then given to theRozgar Sewak who was to ensure that work is opened with fifteen days of the date of demand. In his speech, the Chief Minister appreciated the collaborative efforts made by the district administration and civil society organizations such as the Poorest Areas Civil Society (PACS) working in the area.  Courtesy: Press Information Bureau (pib.nic.in)