Tiruvannamalai district hailed for MGNREGS success

A three-member team from the Central government’s MGNREGS division under the Rural Development Department, which visited various locations in the Jawadhu hills, inspecting works related to the MGNREGS (Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme – 100 days work scheme in local parlance) for three days, has lauded the district administration for its excellent work in creating infrastructure to help tribals, according to official sources.

Credit for the work goes to Collector KS Kandasamy, who exhorted his subordinates to serve the tribal population so that they are brought on par with their counterparts in the plains, they said.

While team members Vikram Bhargava and Hansalkumar Sudhirbhai Suthar went around inspecting various works on the first two days between January 19 and 23, MGNREGS Director Raghavendra Pratap Singh joined them on the third day. Kandasamy provided a power point presentation for the members here.

“The visit was based on the amount of money spent under the scheme. Spending too much, too soon and negligible spending result in Delhi officials visiting such areas to get a first-hand knowledge of the pros and cons to ensure that such maladies are removed for further progress of the scheme,” the sources added.

“As Tiruvannamalai district spent Rs 2.5 crore as payment for scheme workers a week, New Delhi officials were naturally curious to see what work needed such heavy funding. As Jawadhu hills panchayat was the recipient of the most funds, they visited this area,” an official involved with the scheme revealed.

“They inspected a total of 26 works, including check dams which had water storage which made the visitors happy as they understood that the scheme was practical and worked,” an official said.