From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network

Bengaluru, May 20: Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa has directed the Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Department officials to ensure that the migrant workers, who have started returning to their native places after leaving their jobs on account of the COVID 19 lockdown situation were provided with sufficient work under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA).

The Chief Minister held a review meeting along with Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister K S Eshwarappa in his Home Office of Krishna in Bengaluru on Wednesday.

Yediyurappa said under the MGNREGA, a target of creating 13 crore man-hours of work had been set for the year 2020-21, with an allocation of Rs 6,315.79 crore in all districts of Karnataka.

With the Narendra Modi regime allocating an additional Rs 40,000 crore for the MGNREGA for this year due to COVID 19 situation, the Chief Minister said the State was likely to get additional funds. All the migrant workers returning to take up their jobs must be provided with sufficient jobs and their wages must be paid in time, he said.

Separate Task Forces have to be established in each of the gram panchayats to create public awareness to maintain the COVID 19 situation, the Chief Minister said asking the officials to ensure supply of essential commodities to the people by undertaking door-to-door visits and also collect necessary data on home quarantine on a daily basis as also institutional quarantine facilities and their maintenance.

As many as 8 lac of masks manufactured by the non-governmental organisations (NGOs) were also being distributed in the villages, he said and mentioned that the various measures had been appreciated by the people. The administration has to be pro-active to rushing to meet the needs of the people, he said.

The Chief Minister asked the officials to ensure that drinking water problems did not arise in the rural areas by taking timely action during the summer.

The Department officials apprised the Chief Minister that drinking water supply was being carried out in the 689 villages of the 14 problem districts through 489 tankers and 706 private borewells.

Yediyurappa said the Department must implement the Central Jal Jeevan Mission and the State Government’s Jaladhare as well as supply of potable drinking water.

Chief Secretary T M Vijaya Bhaskar, Development Commissioner Vandita Sharma, Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Department Principal Secretary L K Atique and other senior officials participated in the meeting.