Assam: Hailakandi races to saturate flagship schemes under EGSA
Hailakandi
As the countdown for the conclusion of the Extended Gram Swaraj Abhiyan (EGSA) has begun, the Hailakandi district administration races to saturate the ‘aspirational district’ with seven flagship social welfare schemes by Independence Day.
Reviewing the status of progress on a regular basis and supervising the ground implementation of the welfare flagship programmes across five development blocks of the district, Deputy Commissioner, Adil Khan has called upon officials of concerned departments to work towards achieving the best possible outcomes of seven key schemes vis-a-vis Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojana (Saubhagya), Unnat Jyoti by Affordable LEDs for All Yojana (UJALA), Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana and Mission Indradhanush by August 15.
Khan along with District Development Commissioner (DDC), FR Laskar discussed the plan of action in regard to achieving 100% saturation targets by 15th of August with the concerned officials in a meeting on Friday. “The Implementation of EGSA in the targeted villages should bring the fruitful outcomes and the essence of such pro-poor programmes should not be compromised with,” quipped Khan.
The Deputy Commissioner further emphasised that the real objective of the mission is to promote social harmony, reach out to poor rural households, obtain feedback on ongoing programmes, enrol in new initiatives, enhance livelihood opportunities and reiterate national priorities such as cleanliness and strengthening the administrative set up at the district and block levels for welfare of the people living in rural areas.
“The purpose of special intervention is to speed up proper implementation of these pro-poor initiatives of government and to make them accessible to the intended beneficiaries,” said DDC, Laskar.
While there is a need to accelerate the pace of progress to provide electricity connection to 68,510 poor, SC/ST households under the Saubhagya scheme and gas connections to 13,223 homes under the Ujjwala scheme, the financial services for rural beneficiaries to get Jan Dhan bank accounts has achieved a good level of saturation. Mission Indradhanush, a scheme to fully immunise all pregnant women, and all children under two years, is also making good progress.
Financial schemes such as Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana also witnessed a saturation of over 48% so far, with a good number of bank accounts being opened. However, the Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana, a life insurance scheme, has enrolled below 30% of targeted beneficiaries, while the Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana, a risk insurance scheme for accidental death or disability, has reached almost 35% of targeted beneficiaries.
Launched on April 14 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Gram Swaraj Abhiyan aims to improve socio-economic conditions of villages by providing poor households with electricity, insurance, LPG connections and other such facilities. Government think tank NITI Aayog picked 115 districts for the scheme, among which Hailakandi district is included.
The first phase, between April and May, comprised seven schemes — LPG connection, free LED bulbs and electricity, Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana, accident and life insurances and Mission Indradhanush, a vaccination programme.
The five new initiatives concentrate on improving schools, health services and nutrition and launching agricultural projects and a skill development programme.
The second phase covers 247 villages, up from 11 in the first phase. To improve health services, the government will ensure wellness centres in each district, nutrition days in villages and assistance to patients with diseases like TB.
Similarly, pilot projects in agriculture include distribution of soil-health cards, mini kits of pulses and oil seeds, horticultural or bamboo plants.
