30 Mahindra Bolero Pick-ups were given to 30 Village Level Organisations (VLOs) of Self Help Groups (SHGs) from 29 blocks in Nagaland under ‘Aajeevika Grameen Express Yojana on September 8. (Morung Photo)
Morung Express News
Kohima | September 8
The selection of beneficiaries for rural transportation scheme ‘Aajeevika Grameen Express Yojana (AGEY) in Nagaland was on based on their poverty status and their capability to operate the vehicle, Mission Director, NSRLM, Imtimenla said today.
Presenting a brief overview of AGEY at the flagging off event of 30 Mahindra Bolero Pick-ups to 30 Village Level Organisations (VLOs) of Self Help Groups (SHGs) from 29 blocks on Tuesday, she maintained that selection of blocks similarly was done keeping in mind the topography of the particular area where transportation and communication are a challenge and where Community Based Organisations (CBOs) are functioning.
In addition, it was also based on presence of other livelihoods sub-programmes of NRLM like Start-up Village Entrepreneurship Program (SVEP) and Mahila Kissan Shashaktikaran Pariyojna (MKSP), teh director added.
State Minister for Rural Development, Metsubo Jamir handed over the vehicles to the beneficiaries during a brief programme organised by the Nagaland State Rural Livelihood Mission (NSRLM), Department of Rural Development at its Directorate in Kohima, on September 8.
Imtimenla also informed that the Community Investment Fund (CIF) with a dedicated Rs 255 lakh was earmarked by the Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD) solely with the purpose of creating a corpus fund.
The dedicated AGEY CIF of Rs 8.5 Lakh, she said, would be given as interest free loan to members of SHGs with expected time for five years for repayment during which the beneficiary shall bear all operational costs of the vehicles including insurance, road tax, permit cost and any other maintenance cost that may be required to be covered for the operation of the vehicle.
While this fund cannot be utilised for any other purpose, Imtimenla added “it is expected that there will be funds available every 5 years for purchase of new vehicles for other new beneficiaries.”
It was further informed that SHG member shall run the vehicle on pre-approved and determined routes and charges fixed jointly by the operator in coordination with the Transport Department and the State Mission.
As AGEY is also a job provider, the Mission Director maintained that only trained and experienced drivers possessing valid driver’s license shall be engaged to run the vehicle and the salaries of the drivers shall be borne out of the earnings from the operation of the vehicles.
The District and Block teams shall ensure that the drivers do not have prior criminal or DUI (Driving Under Influence) related accidents record, she said.
A feasibility study of the routes to be plied on was carried out in the selected blocks with strict adherence to AGEY guidelines, informed Imtimenla, adding that monthly progress report shall be submitted by the blocks and uploaded onto the NRLM Management Information System (MIS) which will be accessible to all.
She also expressed hope that the remaining 45 Blocks will also be reached out if the Ministry extends the programme in future, which has already been proposed under the Economic Roadmap to the state government.
