Meenangadi has become the first grama panchayat in Kerala to resolve all issues related to the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) by completing social auditing and public hearing.
As many as nine resource persons took 190 days to complete the process as per the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, said K.E. Vinayan, president, Meenangadi grama panchayat.
They evaluated projects under MGNREGS worth ₹4,52,20,658 as a part of the social auditing. As many as 1,069 job card holders of the 3,096 holders under the scheme completed 100 days of work, Mr. Vinayan said.
Works such as rejuvenation of rivulets, farming on fallow lands, planting tree saplings in private and public spaces, and construction of cattle sheds and mud bunds were completed under the scheme, he said.
Issues such as the protection of rights of workers, ensuring jobs, social, economic and environmental development, social commitment, and transparency in planning and execution of projects were assessed, he added.
Ward-level grama sabhas were convened to present the social audit report after examining documents related to work execution.
The civic body became a liability-free gram panchayat after rectifying defects identified during the grama sabha held before the public hearing, Mr. Vinayan said.
MGNREGS workers and officials, representatives of farmers and political parties, members of Kudumbashree units, and grama panchayat officials participated in discussions held as part of the public hearing.
