Government celebrates MGNREGA Diva

The Ministry of Rural Development has decided to focus intensely on convergence of MGNREGA with other Schemes to create durable and useful assets. It has introduced a new module to capture planning and implementation of convergence initiatives. 21 States have prepared their Convergence Plans already. Convergence has been closely linked to measuring outcomes of works and their impact on the rural economy. This was stated by Minister of Rural Development, Shri Birender Singh, while addressing the tenth MGNREGA Divas celebrations here today. He said that the objective is to use MGNREGA for livelihood based sustainable development.

The Minister of Rural Development emphasized that MGNREGA has provided employment to crores of households every year and has become an important vehicle for enhancing the livelihoods of rural poor and strengthening the rural natural resource base. Over the last year, the Ministry has streamlined the Scheme to make it more relevant to the local needs and demands of the beneficiaries with greater focus on backward areas. The ministry also purposes to undertake skilling and entrepreneurship of MGNREGA workers and their family members in convergence with NRLM, he added

The Rural Development Minister also stressed on the recent initiatives taken by the Ministry to address issues around transparency and accountability in MGNREGA. For instance, some forward looking IT based initiatives like universalization of eFMS, notification of MGNREGA under DBT and mobile monitoring systems to have been introduced. The Social Audit systems have also been strengthened.

The Minister said that MGNREGA is also supporting the other flagship programmes like Swachh Bharat Mission through the construction of toilets. As a part of Swachh Bharat Mission (Gramin), to achieve the goal of a clean India by 2019, MGNREGA has been aligned with this initiative whereby nearly 2 Crore IHHLs will be constructed during the next five years. States have also been requested to bring the existing MGNREGA workers with bank accounts under Prime Minister Jan Dhan Yojana and to open bank accounts for new workers under this Yojana.

Shri Birender Singh expressed the hope that the current initiatives will address some of the concerns around MGNREGA in a definite manner and contribute significantly to the more efficient implementation of the Scheme.

On the occasion, MGNREGA documents- Report to the People and Report on Capacity Building were also released. The Ministry also showcased some of the achievements through a compilation of photos-Towards Creating Sustainable Assets under MGNREGA. Madhya Pradesh has been awarded for its outstanding work in the area of convergence of Schemes with MGNREGA and supporting livelihoods

Three States, 11 districts, 15 Postal Department officers and 9 Sarpanches were recognized and awarded for demonstrating excellence and undertaking specific initiatives to ensure effective implementation of MGNREGA. These awards will encourage and motivate other ground level functionaries as well to further improve implementation of the Scheme.

The tenth MGNREGA Divas celebrations organized by the Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India were attended by Minister of Rural Development Shri Birender Singh, Minister of State for Rural Development Shri Sudarshan Bhagat, Minister of State for Drinking Water and Sanitation Shri Ram Kirpal Yadav, Minister of State for Panchayati Raj, SHri Nihal Chand, State Rural Development Ministers, Senior State Government officials, Secretary Rural Development Shri L.C. Goyal and officials of the Ministry of Rural Development, eminent professionals, representatives of Panchayati Raj Institutions, MGNREGA workers, District Collectors and District Programme Coordinators and members of their team. (PIB)

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Donating Surplus Food – a Social Service Activity

Any occasion that is happy and auspicious is not complete without food. Any good news and we want to celebrate the occasion with our loved ones we call for a party. Any occasion whether it is good or bad it is not complete without food.

In marriages or in other functions we see that lot of food and that too many varieties are offered to the guests. Now a days it has also become a fashion to offer multiple cuisines in such occasions, even after consumption lot of food is left out, and it goes waste.

On such occasion instead of wasting the food you can donate the leftover food to food banks, yes, these are the very people who collect the excess food from your place and distribute it among those who are starving.

There are many kinds of organizations that are offering these kind of services. Some people bring their own transport and vessels and collect the food and go.

In some other organizations you have to take the food to their place and then they will make arrangements to distribute the food.

Any way the food is not wasted and what is excess and waste to you fills the stomach of someone who is hungry.

These are voluntary organizations founded by persons like you and me who do this as service to the society. There are many such organizations that are undertaking these kinds of activities.

So, next time you are any where you see excess or left over and good food, instead of throwing it out you can suggest giving it to these organizations and help fill in some ones empty stomach.

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NGO Profile: Alternative for Rural Movement (ARM)

Alternative for Rural Movement (ARM)  was started by, few Academicians, Visionaries and professionals of North Balasore on 8th March 1989. Till date ARM has organized over 300 Women Self Help Groups (WSGs) across 100 remote rural villages in 16 Gram Panchayats serving a population of 1, 18,748 (21376 families) of Balasore district in the state of Odisha.

Vision and Mission of ARM in its own words:

Vision: To find out an alternative strategy of rural social intervention and facilitate the NGO movement in the state of Odisha.

Mission: Establishment of an equitable social order through motivation, facilitation and self activity among backward rural communities with emphasis on women and children in the sphere of health education, human rights, economy and rural leadership.

Here are a Few of the Many Accomplishments of ARM:

• ARM has received Certificate of Appreciation towards their excellent contribution in Women Empowerment Activities in the district of Balasore for the Year 2007-08.
• ARM has received Certificate of Appreciation towards their excellent contribution in Women Empowerment Activities in the district of Balasore for the Year 2007-08.
• With the assistance of ARM, 1318 no. of women have become self reliant through 475 rural women micro enterprise groups, under women self employment initiatives.
• ARM has immunized 6316 children till date.
• ARM has given Scholarship support for 200 poor and meritorious children, Art/craft/dance and music based extracurricular activities for 160 talented students as well as Teachers Training for 60 primary school teachers have been extended under School Child Resource Development Centre (SCRDC) project.
• Through ARM Model School project, 1468 no. of children of poor and underprivileged families have got primary education intended for school dropouts and non school going children of dalit and deprived backward communities.
• ARM has established 30 Village Development Committees.
• ARM has renovated 15 village ponds for multipurpose uses.
• School dropout rate has decreased significantly from 66 % to 12 % in this remote coastal area since ARM started educational intervention in 1997.
• ARM has empowered 5618 women and risk girls, trained and sustainably engaged themselves in different vocational self employment activities being protected from drudgery, child labour and women trafficking threats.

 Awards:

• ARM was appreciated as the best NGO at Balasore district for its excellent contribution towards women empowerment in 2007.
• ARM was appreciated as the best NGO at Balasore district for its excellent contribution towards women empowerment in 2004.
• Mission Shakti Govt. of Odisha recognized ARM Coordinating Member as the best facilitator on Women.

Address:
Alternative for Rural Movement (ARM), Baliapal, Dist:Balasore Baliapal, Odisha 756026, Phone- 06781 253 424

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