Coronavirus: Himachal govt guarantees 120 days’ livelihood in urban local bodies
Pratibha Chauhan
Tribune News Service
Shimla, May 16
Confronted with the issue of huge job loss, the Himachal government has assured 120 days’ job guarantee to residents of urban local bodies (ULBs) within 15 days of issuance of a job card, failing which Rs 75 per day will be paid.
The Urban Development Department notified the Mukhya Mantri Shahri Ajeevika Guarantee Yojana (MMSAGY), approved by the cabinet to deal with the huge lob loss as a result of corona pandemic. The main objective of the scheme is to provide livelihood security to urban households, along with skill enhancement.
A very significant feature of the scheme is that in case the government fails to provide job even 15 days after registration for the scheme, an unemployment allowance of Rs 75 per day will be provided.
“In view of the economic lockdown, there has been huge job loss, so we have tried to bring about an improved and simplified version of the MNGREGA,” revealed Rajnish, Secretary, Urban Development and Town and Country Planning (TCP). He added that the job prospects of those already working could also be adversely impacted with a large number of those employed elsewhere returning home.
The scheme will be implemented in all 54 ULBs and cantonment boards from the date of issue of notification till March 31, 2021. All adult members of a household who apply for the scheme will be eligible to work, with the upper age limit for employment being fixed at 65. The ULBs will not employ anyone.
All eligible beneficiaries of a household will be registered through a single application which can also be filed online. The job card will be issued with seven days of the registration on the specified portal. The wages as specified by the state government will be transferred directly into the account of the beneficiaries within seven days of the work being done.
The eligible beneficiaries will be employed in new works, ongoing works, works being undertaken under the 15th Finance Commission and Fifth State Finance Commission and sanitation works under Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016, and Swach Bharat Mission.
Also, the eligible beneficiaries who will be imparted skill training will also be linked to banks in case they wish to start their own enterprises.
