Raipur 05 October 2020. A meeting of Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme was held under the chairmanship of Chief Secretary RP Mandal. In the meeting, there was a discussion on the collection of minor forest produce, planting of fruitful plants, national livelihood works and water conservation works on priority basis. Shri Mandal has instructed to start the planting work of Munga plantation, poultry and egg production, high profit plants like Tikhur, turmeric, lentils etc. under MNREGA by linking self-help groups under National Rural Livelihood Mission. The materials being produced by self-help groups will be used for the eradication of malnutrition in the state.
In the meeting, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests Shri Rakesh Chaturvedi informed that as per a report of the Government of India, collection of minor forest produce in the state of Chhattisgarh has collected Rs 186 crore from collectors. Principal Secretary Panchayat and Rural Development Shri Gaurav Dwivedi informed that employment has been provided to about 26 lakh 30 thousand families under MNREGA during Kovid period. Nala Bandhan, Gothan Construction, Pasture Development, Vermi Compost Tank Construction, Plant Nursery, Roadside Plantation, Paddy Storage Chabutra Construction, Panchayat Building Construction, Anganwadi Building Construction, Pond Deepening, Dabri-Kuan-Checkdem-Embankment on priority basis in the state -Stapdam-irrigation drain-soakfit construction work, Works of canal lining etc. are being done on priority basis. Mr. Dwivedi has asked the officials of the forest department to list the drains flowing in the forest area and also give details of their origin and completion point. Which can help in the identification of water conservation and augmentation works. Additional Chief Secretary Finance Shri Amitabh Jain, Principal Secretary Forest Manoj Pingwa, and senior officials were present in the meeting.