Meghalaya government committed to rural development

Shillong, Apr 3 (UNI) Meghalaya Community and Rural Development (C&RD) Minister Charles Pyngrope today said the government is committed to transparent and effective implementation of all CRD programmes for the benefit of people in the state.

Strict orders have been issued to all officers concerned to expedite the implementation of the scheme after adhering to the guidelines laid down, Mr Pyngrope said while replying to a zero hour notice tabled by Meghalaya Democratic Party MLA Process T Sawkmie.

Referring to Union Minister Raghuvansh Prasad Singh's statement pertaining to misappropriation of funds under Innovative Stream of Rural Housing and Habitat Development, Mr Pyngrope said the Project Director of District Rural Development Agency has filed a case on March 6 against those officers and Gambil Ading Women's Organisation alleged to be involved in the misappropriation of fund.

The Gambil Ading Women's Organisation had been debarred from receiving any grants from any government organization or government agency, the Minister said, adding that the Commissioner of Division for West, East and South Garo Hills have been directed to conduct an enquiry into the affairs of the organisation.

With regard to the implementation of the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, in the two West and South Garo Hills districts of the state, Mr Pyngrope denied that the government did not provide the basic information like the number of applicants, job cards issued, demand for employment or employment provided under the scheme.

However, the minister said that 1,12,276 households have been issued with job cards and 83,394 households demanded employment and were provided with employment.

Altogether, 1,901 works have been taken up in different villages for which Rs 1605.94 lakh have been spent out of Rs 2372.93 lakh released for purpose of implementation of the projects, Mr Pyngrope informed.

UNI