Gurez, October 02
The Intensive Participatory Planning Exercise (IPPE) for Mahatma Gandhi NREGA was launched simultaneously across three blocks of Gurez, Tulail and Bagtore blocks of District Bandipora on Friday.
District Development Commissioner Bandipora Sajad Hussain launched the program on the eve of Gandhi Janti in a function at Boys Higher Secondary School, Dawar in Gurez which was attended by several members of the community SDM Gurez, Assistant Commissioner Development Bandipora, Tehsildar Gurez and Block Development Officer Gurez.
To sensitize the community on this new face of MGNREGA, the district administration organized Gram Sabhas simultaneously across all Panchayats in the three blocks
Giving details about the program, an official of the department said the IPPE is a novel approach to preparation of Labour Budget under MGNREGA in 2500 most backward blocks of the country.
He said the program emphasizes on increasing community participation and transparency in planning, participation of women and vulnerable households and strengthening Panchayats and Gram Sabhas.
Under IPPE, Block Planning Teams comprising educated youth have been formed who will undertake various activities including door-to-door surveys so that the voice of the most vulnerable are heard. “The exercise would also identify deserving beneficiaries for other poverty alleviation schemes such as Indira Awas Yojana (IAY) and various pension schemes under National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP) such as Old Age Pensions, Widow Pensions and Disability Pensions.
Unemployed youth would also be identified for various skill development programmes of the government such as Himayat, Udaan and DeendayalUpadhyaya Gram Kaushal Yojana (DDUGKY).
Officials further said the village will collectively identify works to be taken up for the next financial year via Gram Sabhas. These works would be such that emphasis would be given on community assets that benefit the entire village.
“The Gram Sabha will also prioritize various works to be taken up based on labour demand and plan approvals. Individual livelihood plans would be prepared in convergence with National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM) for the poorest among the poor so as to increase their source of income.”
Officials further said the final plan prepared will be passed by the Gram Sabha and would be displayed prominently in the village so that everyone knows which works would be taken up next year.
A district steering committee chaired by the District Development Commissioner and comprising heads of all departments has also been formed which would examine which all works identified by the Gram Sabhas can be supported by their respective departments’ plans to maximise effectiveness.