Our Correspondent
Kohima | February 2
In commemoration of 10 years of launching of Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGA) in the country, the Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC) in collaboration with Kohima District Congress Committee (KDCC) today organized convention here at Congress Bhavan.
The objective of MGNREGA is to enhance livelihood security in rural areas by providing 100 days guaranteed wage employment in one financial year to every household whose adult members volunteer to do unskilled manual work.
Speaking on the occasion, NPCC president Kewekhape Therie alleged that the MGNREGA fund has been misused in Nagaland. He called upon the party workers to educate the villagers and that the VDB and VCC should not sign any blank cheque. “It is our duty to defend the job card holders,” he said adding that the 100 days wage should be paid.
He also stated that the old age pension and other welfare schemes for pregnant women and weaker section of the people have not been paid for almost two years in the state. Urging upon the party workers to work hard, he also strongly felt that the youth must join the political system and be competent to take the right step and lead the people. Therie also announced that 2016 will be a training year for Congress workers in Nagaland to prepare themselves to face 2018 elections.
Former chief minister K.L. Chishi said that MGNREGA was launched by Congress party when it was in power, with an objective to alleviate poor section of the people in the country. Stating that there are 18 flagship programmes in the country, he expressed dismay that the flagship programmes don’t reach the people of the state, alleging that money sanctioned are misused.
He also said the present DAN government is running into huge deficit, touching nearly Rs. 1400 crores.
“The present government does not have money for development, no programme for youth and no plan for solving unemployment problem,” he said. Stating that Congress will get back to power, he said “Politics is a game of possibility,” and further challenged the party workers to stay firm and work hard.
Earlier, the function was chaired by KDCC president Kevi Vizo.
