Agartala, September 10 (TIWN): The Union Ministry for Rural Development (RD) is set to review progress in rural poverty alleviation at a meeting of the MG NREGS Performance Review Committee at New Delhi onSeptember 18 and 19, official sources said.

The state is currently reportedly having barely Rs. 73 crores in the NREGS funds.

Speaking to reporters about the issue later this evening, Minster for Rural Development Naresh Jamatia said that the Department has decided to distribute the funds to accelerate pace of work ahead of the Durga Puja season.

“We will ask all eight District Magistrates (DM) to start disbursing the funds by the next few days”, he said. The minister further said that the central government released less than half funds till date compared to a similar timeframe in the previous year.

The Ministry for RD released barely Rs. 180 crores under the rural poverty alleviation scheme to Tripura till date in the current financial year. The state government provided a state share of Rs. 80 crores alongwith the opening balance of Rs. 25 crores this year.

“We shall try to expedite the process of getting more funds soon”, the minister stated.

Tripura registered an average of 16 man-days generated across the state till date this year. Dhalai district registered the highest man-days till date this year. Unakoti, Gomati and Khowai districts are at the lowest with average of 13 man-days in their kitty.