As part of the follow up action to the earlier survey report on the implementation of various food and livelihood schemes in the state, a two-member team of officials from the Supreme Court had a review meeting with the state government officials here Tuesday.
The Supreme Court official consisting of Harsh Mander IAS, Commissioner and Biraj Patnaik, Principle Advisor to the Supreme Court of India held a marathon review meeting with hosts of state government officials led by chief secretary Lalthara, additional chief secretary and APC Alemtemshi Jamir and state advisor to the Supreme Court, Chimak Keijung at the chief secretary\u2019s conference hall.
During the meeting, the implementation of various food and livelihood schemes in the state including Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS), Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS), National Old Age Pension Scheme (NOAPS), Mid Day Meal Scheme (MDMS), National Family Benefit Scheme (NFBS), National Maternity Benefit Scheme (NMBS) and National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) were discussed.
\u201cOur survey shows very poor in the implementation of Mid Day Meal Schemes,\u201d said Harsh Mander and stressed the need to improve the same and also the need to reach the food items to the door steps of the people. He suggested coordinated movements of food grains under different schemes such as MDMS, ICDS and TPDS and transports to the village. He further assured to mediate and negotiate for the state with the FCI in this regard.
On the National Old Age Pension Scheme, the SC officials insisted on timely payment of the pension schemes to the beneficiaries saying that delay in payment was defeating the purpose of the scheme.
Mander said that the implementation of NREGA in the state appeared \u201cscandalous\u201d and pointed out that job cards were not given to the people and kept with the secretary of the VDBs in many cases. He stressed the need for more awareness campaign observing that there was lack of awareness on the scheme among the people.
He suggested the state officials to study the communitization programme of Chhattisgarh and assured to extend the logistical support in this regard. He stressed the need for third party evaluation or survey to assess the implementation of various schemes at least once in a year.
The state government officials highlighted various problems confronting the state including the problem of transportation and lacunae while framing criteria and guidelines of various centrally sponsored schemes. The visiting officials were also briefed on the communitization in the state.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"