Union Minister Reviews Rural Development and Land Resources Initiatives
In a significant review meeting held today, Union Minister for Rural Development and Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare, Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan, evaluated various initiatives under the Ministry of Rural Development, focusing on the performance of the Department of Rural Development and the Department of Land Resources.
The discussions highlighted key statistics regarding the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) and the VB – G Ram G Act. Notably, a total of 244 crore man-days have been budgeted for this year across the states, with an impressive 204 crore man-days already generated. By January 2025, nearly 64.7 lakh works have been completed under MGNREGA, contributing to a total of 198 crore man-days of employment.
As part of the financial backing for the MGNREGA scheme, the government has released a remarkable Rs 65,506 crore specifically for wages this fiscal year. The meeting also touched upon the pending labor budget of West Bengal, ensuring all states are supported adequately.
Innovative Technology for Worker Verification
During the session, the topic of e-KYC for workers under MGNREGA was thoroughly examined. The Minister reported that face authentication technology is currently in successful use in one district of each state, allowing for verification even without internet access. Presently, e-KYC has been completed for approximately 80 percent of workers and is set to be rolled out nationwide soon. Chouhan emphasized the importance of ensuring all eligible workers can access jobs without facing barriers.
Empowerment Programs for Youth and Women
The review also included a detailed assessment of the Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana (DDU-GKY). It was revealed that e-KYC processes for women and youth have been successfully completed via the ‘Kaushel Panji App,’ minimizing the risk of duplication. The program has already trained about 18.29 lakh candidates, placing 11.78 lakh in various roles. The operations of RSETI programs, previously managed by a private entity, are now being streamlined for better efficiency.
Land Record Digitization Initiatives
Additionally, the meeting provided insights into the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana (PMKSY) and the LandStack scheme. With a remarkable digitization rate of 99.81 percent achieved for land records under the Digital India Land Records Modernisation Programme (DILRMP), 66.53 percent of land parcels are now standardized with Unique Land Parcel Identification Numbers (ULPIN). The successful pilot of the LandStack project is currently underway in Tamil Nadu and Chandigarh, with plans to expand it nationwide over the next five years.
Present at the meeting were the Secretary of the Ministry of Rural Development and representatives from both departments, ensuring a comprehensive review of ongoing projects.
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