Rural employment scheme not fully operational in Himachal

Thousands of unemployed youth in Himachal Pradesh have not been able to get jobs even after one year of Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme becoming operational in the State, for the single reason that they were not aware of the details of the scheme.

By Rajiv Kimta

Kullu, Dec.17 : Thousands of unemployed youth in Himachal Pradesh have not been able to get jobs even after one year of Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme becoming operational in the State, for the single reason that they were not aware of the details of the scheme.

The job-seekers complain they have not been properly informed about the Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme and the right procedure to avail it.

"Even though the scheme was launched one year ago in Himachal Pradesh and our local legislator is also the Labour and Agriculture Minister, we are still deprived of the scheme," said Thakur Chand, a local of Bajoura Village.

The National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA), 2005 guarantees 100 days of wage employment in a financial year to any rural household whose adult members are willing to do unskilled manual work.

The Panchayats at each Block level have been made the principal authorities for planning and implementation of the schemes under the Section 13 (1) of the NREGA.

"We are unaware about the employment scheme and it has not been implemented here as yet. We have not been given any employment," added Jitendra Thakur, another villager.

Meanwhile, the State minister for Agriculture and Labour, Ram Krishna Goud, claimed that the entire State has been covered under the scheme but refrained from citing any figures.

"Initially the scheme was launched in two Districts in the State but now it has been spread all over. It is difficult to explain that how many people have been benefited from this so far," Gaud said.

According to a survey, less than six per cent registered household have received 100 days of employment under NREGS in the financial year 2006- 07.

In the last financial year 2006-07, only 6 percent of households registered under National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS) in the country availed 100 days of employment that the NREGA guarantees to all rural household interested to do manual labour.

ANI