Merely 21 per cent achievement against the target given to it for generating self-employment under the ambitious and one of the pet projects of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Prime Minister Employment Guarantee Programme(PMEGP), has become a matter of concern for the officials in the State.
Latest figures brought out the startling reality about the progress of the scheme suggesting that against the target to generate 2477 employment opportunities for the youths of the State, especially coming from marginalised sections, meager 531 applications have been approved with only four more months remaining of the current financial year.
The display by the State is worst in the eastern region and banks, mainly in private sector are to be blamed, felt experts during a review workshop organised by the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises in association with Khadi and Village Industries Commission on Tuesday.
“The situation is alarming in the State. This is when we have so much unemployment and have been the worst hit by migration. This may deprive us the allotment next year. Private sector banks need to pull up socks else I would direct all those associated with State Khadi Board to transfer their accounts from there. If situation does not improve by January then I would report this to the Finance Ministry as well as to the PMO,” said Jharkhand Khadi Board Chairperson Sanjay Seth.
Overall against the target of 2477 units comprising Rs 61.93 crore for the year 2018-19 whole 24 districts of the State have managed to disburse just over Rs 13.29 crore by approving 531 applications. Jamtara (2.5 per cent), Simdega (6.58 per cent), Gumla (8.40 per cent) and Latehar (7.8 per cent) have been the worst performers.
Even Ranchi has managed to sanction only 25 proposals against the target of 165. Giridh is the top district of Jharkhand which has managed 44 per cent achievement against the target of 75.
Expressing his concern over pace of the banks in moving applications coming for loan under the PMEGP, DGM of State Level Bankers’ Committee Vincent Lakra said that pendency rate was very high.
“Banks together have managed to sanction applications worth Rs 61.93 crore which is just 21.44 per cent. At the same time applications worth Rs 108 crore is laying with the banks for approval.
We have just few months left to achieve the target and would have work early hard,” said Lakra who at the same time also mentioned about growing NPA since viability of the ideas coming up are not being examined properly.
Former member of the KVIC Ashok Bhagat also addressed the workshop who underlined the tendency of divert funds meant to SCs, STs and marginalised sections to others. “I had noticed this and worked to plug it.
We all have to understand our duties and realise that role of the Government in providing jobs is very limited. Employment can be generated only through programmes like PMEGP,” he said.
