Gram Sabha meetings seek retention of same number of working days, funds under scheme

The gram sabha meetings held in the village panchayats of Tirunelveli and Tenkasi districts unanimously resolved that the newly introduced Viksit Bharat – Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission in lieu of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme should ensure the continuation of sufficient number of working days and allocation of funds.

Following an instruction from the officials, the meetings resolved that the number of labourers hired under the MNREGS should not be curtailed under the newly introduced Viksit Bharat – Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission and all registered workers should be hired.

The villages should be allowed to select the works needed for the development of their hamlets. The number of working days and allocation of funds for the works to be taken under the Viksit Bharat – Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission should not be reduced at any circumstance, the resolution said.

“Since there is a widespread fear that the number of working days under the MNREGS and allocation of funds would be reduced after the introduction of Viksit Bharat – Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission, the village panchayats were asked to pass this resolution during the gram sabha meetings held today,” said a couple of village panchayat presidents.

Tirunelveli District Collector R. Sukumar, who participated in the gram sabha meeting held at Konganthanparai near Palayamkottai, stressed the need for ensuring the continued studies of the children after Plus Two in colleges, handing over separately degradable and non-degradable wastes to the sanitary workers, avoiding malnutrition of children with the guidance of health department officials, wearing helmets while riding bikes to avoid fatal accidents etc.

“We are organising ‘Vetri Nadai’ coaching camps for the benefit of rural youth to join police, Border Security Force, Central Industrial Security Force and Agniveer Scheme. So, the aspirants should join these camps to mould themselves for clearing these recruitments,” Dr. Sukumar said.

In Tenkasi district, District Collector A.K. Kamal Kishore participated in the gram sabha meeting held at Nainaragaram where he stressed the need for including the names of all eligible voters in the voters’ list for casting vote in the upcoming Assembly polls.

The gram sabha meetings held in the district also debated on desilting the irrigation tanks, implementation of Jal Jeevan drinking water scheme, anti-dengue operations etc.

Reports on revenue and expenditure between April 1, 2025 and December 31, 2025 in each village panchayat were tabled and read in all gram sabha meetings for discussion and subsequent acknowledgement of the participants. Cleanliness of public places, solid waste management, segregated garbage collection, avoiding use-and-throw plastics etc. were discussed.