IMPHAL, June 9: Union Minister for Rural Development today inspected NREGS works in Churachandpur district along with the state Rural Development Minister Francis Ngajokpa today.
The Union Minister also holds charge of Drinking Water and Sanitation. He arrived in Imphal today by a morning flight where he was received by state Minister Francis Ngajokpa at the Imphal airport.
Soon after arrival, Jairam Ramesh went to Moirang and inspected the Indian National Army museum there after which he visited Churachandpur and inspected works being taken under MGNREGS, BRGF, IAY and DRDA.
As he returned from Churachandpur, he called on the state Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh at his bungalow office and briefed him on his visit.
Minister Jairam Ramesh had recently lambasted the MGNREGS saying that the programme being run by his ministry was paying wages for work which was unproductive and created no real assets.
Talking to the Youth Congress` online magazine Yuvadesh, Ramesh asked how long the “ditch digging” scheme would continue.
The minister said the government would take a re-look at the NREGA programme two years from now. Interestingly, the year would coincide with General Elections 2014.
Ramesh said that the country needed skilled employment. He conceded that only 8 per cent of the households in the country got 100 days of employment or more.
Later in the evening the state government hosted a dinner in his honour. The Union Minister will address a press conference tomorrow at 11 am at the Old Secretariate.
Kaimuanthang adds from chandpur: With an aim to oversee the various developmental steps taken up by the state government here in this rural area of Churachandpur, the Union Minister for Rural Development Jairam Ramesh has paid a visit and inspected some of the works which was completed under the BRGF, IAY and others under DRDA .
He was accompanied by state Rural Development minister Francis Ngajokpa and HAC Chairman Dr Chaltolien Amo, PHED Minister I Hemochandra, MLAs RK Imo, T Mangi Babu and M Prithiviraj.
The Union Minister’s arrival was well behind schedule and as such several programmes in Matejang, New Lamka and other areas had to be cancelled.
The Union Minister had to make hurried inspection in villages like ST Chullouphai due to the time limit.
He was however given a rousing welcome by the villagers in Chullouphai Village shouting slogans like ‘Long live Jiram’, ‘Jiram Zindabad’ and ‘Continue to give us Job card wages’.
Addressing the crowd in the village, he said people of all tribe with diverse culture and traditions could live together happily and thus making it as one of the best places.
Urging all people of the state to work for peace and development, he said there are so many people from the state working in various fields even in Delhi and so many other places including those who are air hostess with the Zet Airways.
He said demands raise by the state of Manipur government is so dear to the Centre and will always help it for the state’s development in the right perspective and further urged the people to cooperate with the government.
He left the district for Imphal after lunch at the DC`s Bungalow at about 4:30 pm.