'Panchayat Mitras' to link panchayat with UP govt

Lucknow, June 20 (UNI) In a major step towards employment generation in the state, Uttar Pradesh today decided to appoint 'Panchayat Mitras', the government's interface at the panchayat level, under National Rural Employment Gaurantee (NREG) scheme -- one of the most ambitious schemes of the Centre.

'Panchayat Mitras' would be appointed at each of 18,237 village panchayats in 22 districts of UP, which are covered under NREG.

A decision to this effect was taken here at the meeting of state cabinet chaired by chief minister Mulayam Singh Yadav, UP chief secretary Naveen Chandra Bajpayee told reporters.

The Mitras in the age group of 18-35 yrs would be appointed by a committee headed by the District Magistrate in each of these districts. They would be paid an honorarium of Rs 2,000 per month.

NREG Act had asked for such an arrangement under the panchayati raj system to look after the paper work and other modalities of the scheme, Mr Bajpayee informed.

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