Chief minister Tarun Gogoi with social welfare minister Akon Bora (right) at a function. File picture

Jan. 27: The Centre’s job card scheme that guarantees 100 days of employment in a year has few takers in the Kamrup (metro) district.

The scheme under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, which provides jobs to unemployed youths and unskilled villagers in construction and plantation projects, is being implemented in the Chandrapur, Dimoria and Sonapur areas under Dispur Assembly constituency.

Social welfare minister Akon Bora, who also represents Dispur constituency, told The Telegraph that of the 13,000 job cards issued in Chandrapur last year, only 350 people have come forward to take the cards so far. In Dimoria block, only 1,000 people have come forward against the 22,000 job cards issued last year. The condition is more or less similar in Sonapur, he added.

“It is a very unfortunate situation and once again exposes the lack of work culture in our society. The government is puzzled as to why people have not come forward to take the job cards at a time when the unemployment problem is posing a big challenge. Under the scheme, a person now gets Rs 77 per day for work. The Assam government will give an additional amount of Rs 23 under the scheme,” Bora said.

He said the social welfare department would soon laun-ch a massive publicity and awareness drive to motivate people to take the job cards.

“NGOs and social workers will be involved in the drive. There is a great urgency to start the campaign as the funds sanctioned under the scheme will have to be returned if the scheme is not properly implemented. The government cannot give the job cards to outsiders. They can be given only to the indigenous people of the areas covered under the scheme,” he added.

The department has also started assessing the performance of various welfare schemes in east Guwahati, west Guwahati, Jalukbari and Dispur constituencies.

Bora said the government plans to chalk out schemes keeping in mind the urban character of the four constituencies. “The government is focusing on plans for development and improvement of the slum areas in the city with introduction of schemes on health and nutrition, sanitation, education and economic empowerment,” he added.