State-level orientation programme of MUKTA professionals held

Bhubaneswar: A one-day State level orientation programme for Mukta professionals was inaugurated on Wednesday by Usha Devi, Minister Housing & Urban Development.

She said MUKTA (Mukhyamantri Karma Tatpara Abhiyan) is an urban wage employment programme introduced in the mid of Covid-19 pandemic for providing a socio-economic safety net by rapid mass employment opportunities for the migrant/informal workers.

It is an inclusive programme and comes under 5T governance and adopts a community driven, participatory and bottom-up approach ensuring transparency and accountability in the entire execution process, she also said.

Usha Devi said: “Our department has always strived to achieve speed and scale without negotiating with quality and transparency in implementation of MUKTA.”

During the last 28 months, around 45,000 projects have been implemented across 115 Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) of the State. More than 40 lakh man-days have been generated directly benefitting around six lakh urban poor and migrant labourers, of which close to 40 per cent are women beneficiaries, she added.

She also pointed out other milestones achieved under the MUKTA scheme, such as 36,000 Rainwater Harvesting System have been created under the “Catch the Rain Campaign” in different ULBs. About 18,000 Mission Shakti groups and slum dweller associations have partnered with MUKTA for execution of about 45,000 projects.

Also read: Odisha’s MUKTA receives global recognition for sustainable urban initiatives

While acknowledging Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik’s allocation of Rs 1,000 crore for MUKTA scheme, she said it would benefit urban poor and migrant workers at large in terms of gaining livelihood opportunities at their doorsteps.

The Minister urged the team to strive hard and make the vision of Chief Minister a reality and make continuous efforts to reach the last mile and make a mark in urban landscape of the State through implementation of MUKTA.

G Mathi Vathanan, Principal Secretary said MUKTA is a flagship programme of the State government, he said and adding that this initiative has received two international awards like Medal of Honour and Online Popular City Award for Urban Innovation at the prestigious 2020 Guangzhou International Award.
MUKTA has been selected as one of the top five finalists for the 2021-22 WRI Ross Centre Prize for Cities. The Prize recognises MUKTA’s swift action to create mass employment and infrastructure during the Covid-19 pandemic, he added.

He also emphasised on community driven, participatory and bottom-up approach ensuring transparency and accountability in the entire execution process of MUKTA and warned for any lapses.

Sangramjit Naik, Director Municipal Administration said MUKTA focuses on development and creation of sustainable community-based assets at each of the 2,055 wards across 115 ULBs of the State in a saturation mode.

Director SUDA and Joint Secretary Sarada Prasad Panda in his welcome address informed about the context setting and objective of the orientation programme and Additional Secretary Durgesh Nadini Sahoo gave vote of thanks.

Aroud 345 MUKTA professionals from 115 ULBs and other Officials attended the orientation workshop.