MUMBAI, JAN 27: The State Cabinet today accepted reccommendations for changes in the Employment Guarantee Scheme (EGS). The decision is expected to accelerate ongoing works under the scheme.The reccommendations were made by a committee including Employment Gurantee Minister Shobhatia Phadanvis, Finance and Planning Minister Mahadeo Shivankar, Revenue Minister Narayan Rane, Public Works Minister Nitin Gadkari, Irrigation Minister Eknath Khadse and Rural Development Minister Anna Dange.The ratio of unskilled to skilled workers under the EGS has been changed to 51:49 from 60:40, but will remain the same for soil conservation, afforestation and horticulture works. A special training programme will be launched for unskilled workers to make them competent as early as possible.The government does not undertake disilting of lakes in villages under the EGS as it is not economically feasible. However, it will now be undertaken on an experimental basis under the EGS in some villages. The quality of this workwill be djudged by the government and if successful, be replicated in other parts of the State.At the gram panchayat level, the EGS committee will now have the power to plan works under the scheme, but not implement and inspect the works. A special drive will be launched to complete pending works under the EGS. Budgetory allocation for surveys will be undertaken and accordingly, funds will be made available to the respective departments. One per cent of the amount estimated for the survey will be released in advance.
