In Jammu and Kashmir, with the easing of lock-down restrictions imposed in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, Rural Development Department (RDD) Budgam has activated men and material to take-up most of the works under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) and (Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana) MAY flagship programmes.

The step has been taken to enable labourers of the district to earn their livelihood and overcome financial crisis they were facing due to lockdown.

The department has been giving special focus on resuming stalled schemes besides taking up of new labour oriented works particularly under MGNREGA. It aims to generate large number of man-days all across the district so that workers are provided the means to earn their livelihood smoothly.

Assistant Commissioner Development Budgam, Nuzhat Qureshi said that the works were taken up on fast track basis and each Panchayat was asked to prioritize the works to ensure execution of minimum two works in the first instance.

She further said that to ensure smooth execution of all undergoing works, the Rural Development Department is working in synergy with all line departments and allied agencies.

While elaborating on resumption of developmental activities, she said that focus initially was how to provide immediate financial help to underprivileged, poor and workless labourers of the district.

Accordingly, about 999 works including 780 spillover and 219 new ones were taken in hand for early completion while 10.32 crore rupees have been credited into the individual accounts of beneficiaries through DBT mode on account of wages so far.

She added that works under MGNREGA and PMAY were taken up purposely as these are main source of generating livelihood means for labour class.

17,280 laborers were simultaneously engaged across the district in 17 Community Development blocks thereby generating about 1.22 lakh man-days providing alternate employment to 9602 households.