Best Gram Panchayats

Twelve Gram Panchayats from seven states have been selected for the Award under the Scheme of Awards for Best Performing Gram Panchayats for the year 2009-10. These are Khairwahi (Dondi Block) and Machandur (Durg Block) from Durg District of Chhattisgarh; Kalauna (Dadwali Block) from Sirsa Disstrict of Haryana; Nedumkandam (Nedumkandam Block) from Idduki and Kottukal (Athiyannoor Block) from Thiruvanthapuram districts of Kerala; Pandurna (Mukhed Block) from Nanded district of Maharashtra; Pampura (Asind Block) from district Bhilwara and Badwas Choti (Kushalgarh Block) from Banswara district of Rajasthan; Chuba Phong (Namathang Block) from South Sikkim district of Sikkim and Dhamna (Mauranipur Block) and Dhamna Khurd (Chirgaon Block) from district Jhansi in Uttar Pradesh.

These Panchayats will be awarded tomorrow at a function in Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi to mark the completion of 5th year of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) by the Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and the UPA Chairperson Smt. Sonia Gandhi. Union Minister for Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Shri Vilasrao Deshmukh will inaugurate the Sammelan.

These Panchayats have been selected by Ministry of Panchayati Raj after assessing their all round performance and their ability in delivering the results as per the demand. The parameter of selection is based on their contribution in implementing the MGNREGA .

The precise role of GP in implementing MG NREGA depends upon Initiatives undertaken in creating awareness on MGNREGA in the village to enable the wage seekers to seek job under the Act; providing job to families who demanded work under MGNREGA for employment during the year and keeping their proper record. This include No. of Group applications,:Oral applications, Worksite applications and No of advance applications received as on date and also the record of families getting job along with those who didn’t got job.

The type of work under the MGNREGA comprises of Water conservation/ Drought proofing; Plantation; Roads/culverts; Irrigation works; Land development; Renovation/de-silting of tanks/ponds; Flood control & protection works; and Other works.

Details of worksite management include Number of mates, their selection process and provision of training to them, Planning and selection of shelf of projects – details of there planners and was the works for NREGA was recommended by Gram Sabha. Timeline followed for NREGA works planning encompasses (i) the detail of the minutes of the Gram Sabha meeting held on every 2nd October to plan NREGA works and (ii) the meeting of 15th October every year to ascertain whether the GP developmental plan based on GS recommendations submitted to Block for approval. The Mode of payment adopted under MGNREGA in the village :Cash;Bank; Post Office Accounts; Biometric or any other. Record of Delay in payments and the procedure of Social audit of all works being done.

No. of work site inspection conducted and No. of separate Registers maintained is also a parameter for selection. These registers are for Registration,Job Card, Muster Roll, Emplyment, Works, Assests, Complaint and Monthly allotment and utilisation certificate watch register.

The Wage material ratio: wage component (in percentage) and record of Any complaint received from NREGA workers regarding work site facilities available is also a part of the parameters.