Regional Conference of State Rural Development Ministers of Andhra Pradeh,

Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu,

Telengana and Administrators of Andaman/Nicobar and Lakshadweep

On Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act

On 6th January 2015 at Kovalam, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala

Speech by

H.K. PatilMinister for Rural Development & Panchayat Raj

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Government of Karnataka

Hotel Udaya Samudra, Kovalam, Thiruvananthapuram, KeralaOn 06th January 2015

Shree Chaudhary Birender Singhji, Hon’ble Minister of Rural Development, Minister of Panchayati Raj, Drinking Water and Sanitation. Government of India.

My colleagues Hon’ble Ministers from Southern region Shree Vijyanada, Special Secretary MoRD Senior officers from various states, dignitaries on the dais, ladies and gentlemen

At the outset, I take this opportunity to thank Hon’ble Union Minister for Rural Development and Panchayath Raj, Drinking Water and Sanitation for his kind invitation and his keenness in strengthening implementation of Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme.

Poverty in the rural society is the root cause of all social illness like community health, migration, illiteracy, crime, immorality etc.,

Proper employment opportunity is panacea to all these ill problems, I mean by this employment opportunity to all sections of society like old age persons, physically handicapped, mentally retarded and specially women. All of us are responsible and have privileged duty in uplifting health, dignity and self-esteem of these vulnerable sections.

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About My State:-Karnataka State has diversity in geographical structure varying from dry belt of Hydrabad Karnataka area to costal districts, Western Ghats, Malnad areas and semi arid areas. State witness floods and famines across the State. Culturally also we witness variation across the State. We have 5629 Gram Panchayaths with 59753 rural habitations, spread across 176 blocks of 30 districts. With 3.98 crore rural population. The scheme is being implemented across the state in all districts.

Karnataka has achieved 97% success during 2013-14 by spending Rs 2097.00 crores out of Rs. 2159.13 available funds. During the current year we have achieved about 77.07% by spending Rs. 1234.28 crores as against available funds of Rs. 1596.87 crores. This has effected in creation of 2.90 crore persondays. 8.31 lakhs households have been given job opportunities. Totally we have 57.82 lakhs Job cards. I want to bring to your kind notice that Karnataka is reeling under drought in 34 taluks of 9 revenue districts.

New initiatives by new Government under MGNREGA

Our Government took charge of the State during May 2013. Karnataka State recognized the importance, implication and impact of the Scheme in upliftment of rural economy with creation of durable assets. Me and my government have understood the two cardinal principles of the scheme transparency and accountability. I with the help of my officers gave more thrust on transparency. Our new ventures on transparency includes extending eFMS to the labour and material across all the State. State is continuously in strengthening its efforts through the IT utilizing the IT services.

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We have developed a software end2end solution with various modules including Ombudsmen, complaints, Ward Sabha, Gram Sabha works, Line Department inclusion etc., we have compatibility issue with NIC about NREGASoft and I hope with your leadership we are able to resolve these issues.

We have taken the steps to strengthen the social audit Apart from the regular Social audits we have experimented by conducting special social audits including verification of toilets under NBA now India’s ambitious project Swaccha Bhart Abhiyan.

Ombudsmen:- State has scrupulously implemented GoI Guidelines on implementation of Ombudsmen and creation of ombudsmen’s Appellate Authority at State Head Quarters. Eminent personalities have occupied these posts and ensuring the rights of the people are seamlessly met with.

Wage seekers mobilization:- Labour groups have been formulated on par with the other States. With their Group leader named as Kayaka Bandhu which means workers captain. These Kayaka Bandhu’s work as mediator between implementers and beneficiaries viz.., wage seekers.

Strengthening of technical Staff:- State, like other States too suffered due to lack of technical personnel at field level. We have taken 953 number of civil engineers and 302 number of Agricultural/ Horticulture/domain experts to fill these gaps. They are working solely for the NREGA Scheme only.

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State Quality Monitors:- We have about 25 State and District Quality Monitors who are very senior retired technocrats . They visit field often, monitoring the quality of the works and guide the junior technical staff at field level and also act as feed back to the State head quarters.

Hon’ble Chief Minister’s 15 point Programme:- This scheme has many types of works which helps rural development. I with my leader Chief Minister decided to formulate 15+6= 21 point Programme for the Rural Development. Under this scheme following 9 types of works under NREGA are taken up

1. “Namma Hola Namma Dari” means “our field our road” where in 4626 works are taken up. Right now we have spent about Rs.18.96 lakhs on this.

2. “Recharge pits” 355 works with a value of Rs.47 lakhs are taken up which will ensure rise in the water table

3. Grave yard development:- Under this programme, 764 works are taken up right now an amount of Rs.2.41 crores has been spent.

4. Live stock:- Construction of Cattle Shed , Goat Shed are very important for rural economy. Hence State has given special importance for these works. Nearly 12000 works are taken up and till now Rs. 7. 36 Crores has been spent.

5. Tanks:- Rural tanks are revived under this scheme. State has conducted national level workshop on this issue and has taken up about 703 works with an expenditure of Rs.4.26 crores.

Like this State has given importance to multi arch check dams. We have an ambitious target of completion of 10 lakhs toilets and is committed for ODF.

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Importance has been given for thrashing yards, water body rejuvenation, construction of play fields etc.,

Demand Capture:- For this programme, we are using the services of BPO with a toll free services available to all people who can call and register their demand for works, complaints, apply and modify for Job Cards and obtain information about the scheme. Toll Free Number is 18004258666.

Information Education Communication (IEC):- I confess like other States, that IEC is always under estimated due to which the outreach of the poor people in all Government Schemes is low. We have initiated special drive for these activities under the scheme, we are observing Rojgar Divas, Conducting workshops and training mass campaign, theme based campaign, Door to Door awareness Campaign are taken. We have also introduced incentives for those who work for this scheme especially for Individual House Hold Toilet.

Transparency:- Wall writings are taken up in all gram panchayats

Publicity:- Posters, Leaflet, booklets, Print media exhibitions are being taken up under Mid-Media, IEC Activities. We have also given importance for mass media like Jingles, radio programmes, News Paper, Articles etc., and I am happy to inform this august body that, I have taken part in several phone-in programmes along with my senior officers.

Use of Abdul Nazir Sab State Institute of Rural Development (ANSSIRD) : - Like other states, State has its own State Institute of Rural

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Development Situated in serene place of Chamundi foot hills at Mysore; which is putting continuous efforts in training enhancing the capacity building through various programmes.

Intensive Participatory Planning Exercise (IPPE):- As per your direction my dear sir, we have identified 69 blocks for Intensive Participatory Planning Exercise (IPPE). Formulation of labour budget for 2015-16 is under way State Convergence Plan:- Government of India was kind enough to approve our State Convergence Plan. We have roped in 9 line departments namely, Forest, Agriculture, Horticulture, Sericulture, Fisheries, Minor Irrigation, Watershed development, Animal Husbandry and Panchayath Raj Engineer Department. State Government is bestowing its special attention on watershed development programmes and road side plantations Funds crunch:- It pinches my heart to bring it to notice of your kind self that this most prestigious and ambitious flagship programme is suffering in Karnataka in implementation level due to non-uniform of fund flow. Funds gets dried-up as the fund released to State are very meager amount. This has down sized the confidence of the implementation. I strongly feel that it is Constitutional fundamental rights on your part to make the funds easily available to the State and Union Territories. Which should be with less procedures and uniform to all States. I am given to understanding that some of the States have got more money, where as in my State is dried up with funds. Please look into these financial improper patterns scrupulously under the federal system of the State and central relationship without any step-motherly treatment.

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The keenness shown now by your kind self, has given me a ray of hope that Government of India will appreciate the efforts of the State and supplement us with the perennial source of funds and enhance confidence in you and in implementation of this scheme which has been named after Bapu

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