Assam chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Thursday asked the gram panchayats to ensure resumption of schemes such as the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) to pump in money for poor villagers and held the first meeting with the economic advisory committee the government had constituted recently to suggest ways to revive the economy.

Sonowal, in a telephone conference, told the panchayat presidents and secretaries to ensure corruption-free implementation of these schemes. “Disbursal of MGNREGA wages to the job-card holders should be ensured so that the distressed people in rural areas can get benefit of the scheme,” he said.

The direction has come at a time lockdown-induced weeks-long stagnation of economic activities is giving a hard time to the rural poor.

He urged the panchayats to maintain social-distancing norms and ensure that workers in the village under the schemes use masks during implementation of these schemes. Sonowal directed for purchase of 2,000 masks by each panchayat from self-help groups and distribute them among the workers.

During the meeting with the committee, headed by retired bureaucrat Subhas Das, Sonowal emphasised on strengthening the agriculture and its allied sectors for development of the state’s economy.

The chief minister talked about necessity of empowering the youths returning to the state from outside due to Covid-19 pandemic so that they can become self-reliant.

Das said after going through available data, the committee would be able to submit a preliminary report within the next 20 days.

“The committee would look at making systematic interventions through a holistic approach,” he said.

On Thursday, Sonowal also visited Athgaon in Kamrup district and took stock of the construction work of 48km road-cum-embankment project on the Puthimari river. He said the government, apart from fighting Covid-19, was taking steps to prepare the state for the forthcoming rainy season.

Sonowal said the water resources department and the district administration have been directed to complete the project at the earliest. He said repair and construction of embankments in the state had been little delayed due to Covid-19 induced lockdown.

Suspended: Agriculture minister Atul Bora suspended the district agricultural officer, Barpeta. “The District Agricultural Officer, Barpeta has been placed under suspension for gross negligence & irregularities in selection of beneficiaries for #PMKisan. I have also directed the officials to re-examine and prepare PM-Kisan beneficiary lists with no bogus names by May 15,” Bora tweeted on Wednesday night.”

“I have issued instructions to senior officials of the department to inquire urgently into the matter and submit me a report by May 15,” he said.