In an attempt to reduce poverty in rural areas through the National Rural Livelihood Mission project, the State Government has identified ten districts as focused districts.
According to Usha Padhee, Director of NRLM, Deogarh Rayagada, Malkangiri, Koraput, Sambalpur, Sundargarh, Ganjam, Gajapati, Kandhamal and Mayurbhanj have been identified as focused districts for NRLM activities.
Stating that all the districts have been asked to submit their action plans, she said guidelines for preparation of action plan has already been issued to them. It is expected that the process will boost successful implementation of the project.
She said because of its missionary activities in the field of rural livelihood, Odisha has become a focused State of the National Livelihood Mission. Experiences of the State have been built into the NRLM policy, she said and added that Odisha is on fast-track in implementation of the NRLM programmes.
She said the Union Government has approved the Action Plan of Rs 240 crore prepared by the State Government for the 2012-13 financial year. For successful implementation of the NRLM, team members of the State Mission Management Unit have already been positioned. Meanwhile, initiation and sensitisation workshop has been completed in all 30 districts. Training has also been completed in all the districts except Jagatsingpur which is scheduled to be organised on July 28, she said.
Padhee was speaking at the inaugural function of a two day workshop on challenges and opportunities in NRLM and MGNREGS here today.
Inagurating the workshop, Chief Secretary Bijay Kumar Patnaik advised the district Collectors and DRDA Project Directors to identify cluster of activities in which people of a district have core competence and plan NRLM activities to promote sustainable livelihood.
Among others, Finance Secrertaray JK Mohapatra, Panchayati Raj Secretary PK Jena and Union RD Joint Secretary K Raju also spoke.
