The National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme was launched in February, 2006 and the scheme was implemented in the District w.e.f 1st July, 2006. Village Council is the main work executing agency at the village level.

Rural connectivity works were taken up in large numbers. New roads were constructed and old ones were maintained which proved to beneficial to the District and the people at large since communication was the main reason for its backwardness as compared to the other districts of Mizoram. Water conservation was also taken up and almost all the villages were provided with water tanky and a regular supply of fresh drinking water. There were 6621 registered households who were all provided with 100 days of wage employment. Saiha was not covered by the scheme in the first year.

The capital, Saiha was also covered by the scheme and the registered households also increased to 11,147. However, 100 days wage employment could not be provided this year due to the paucity and untimely release of funds from the central as well as the state government. Nevertheless, 45 days of wage employment was provided to the registered households. Land development works like terracing, land leveling, maintenance of school playground etc, water conservation, flood control and protection like construction of drainage, retaining wall, brace wall etc, afforestation and rural connectivity works were taken up in large numbers which all proved to be beneficial for the rural ST families and the district.

The total number of registered families within the district has increased to 11,945 and 100 days wage employment was provided. During the year, land development works were taken up in large numbers and terracing was done on the lands of ST families. Rural Connectivity works was also given priority to enable easy transportation of foodstuffs from the district headquar ter. This was the immediate requirement of the villages considering the scarcity of food due to the famine caused by flowering of bamboos. A number of works which require materials besides unskilled labour were taken up under material component. Drainages, culverts, retaining walls, brace walls and bridges were constructed on the roads newly constructed under NREGS.

62 days of wage employment has been provided so far to 12,152 households. Rural connectivity, water conservation, afforestation have been taken up. Social Audit Forum was conducted on August 2009 in all the VCs and Gram Sabhas were also held on October 2009 in all the VCs. However, due to the unavailability of a separate fund for conducting social audit, it has been managed from the administrative fund. A training programme was organized for the Village level functionaries under the guidance of SIRD on September 2009 which was really informative. The district officials also organized a training programme on the Usage of First Aid Kit wherein all the VC presidents, Secretaries and VLAs were called. First Aid Boxes were given to them and they have since put their training to good use. It may be mentioned that a local vigilance and monitoring committee has been formed in all the VCs within the district to closely monitor and supervise the works taken up under the scheme. It may also be mentioned that NREGS is the only scheme among the various other centrally sponsored schemes that has reached the house/home of the rural poor and it would not be wrong to mention that the livelihood of the rural poor people has greatly improved since the introduction of this scheme.

I. District level (covering 17 Village Councils)

1.District Programme Coordinator (DC,Saiha) - 1
2. District Programme Officer (PD,DRDA) - 1
3. Work Manager & Assistant Engineer, DRDA - 1
4. Accounts Manager & Account Officer, DRDA - 1
5. Programme Officer - 1
6. Technical Assistant (BE) - 1
7. Accounts Assistant - 1
8. Computer Assistant - 2
9. Technical Assistant (Junior Engineer) - 1
10. Administrative Assistant (VLAs) - 8

II. Tuipang RD Block (covering 49 Village Councils):

1. Programme Officer & Block Development Officer - 1
2. Technical Assistant (JE) - 3
3. Administrative Assistant (VLAs) - 10
4. Computer Assistant - 1

III. Saiha RD Block (covering 19 Village Councils:

1. Programme Officer & Block Development Officer - 1
2. Technical Assistant (JE) - 2
3. Administrative Assistant (VLAs) - 5
4. Computer Assistant - 1

2007 – 2008

I. Tuipang RD Block:

1. No. of households : 4495
2. No. of days employment provided : 45 days
3. Fund Received : Rs. 16069680.00
4. Fund utilized : Rs. 16069680.00

5. Works taken up (in nos.):

a. Water conservation : 17
b. Land development : 10
c. Flood Control & protection : 5
d. Rural Connectivity : 85

II. Saiha RD Block:

1. No. of households : 7246
2. No. of days employment provided : 45 days
3. Fund Received : Rs. 33660077.00
4. Fund utilized : Rs. 33464702.00

5. Works taken up (in nos.):

a. Water conservation : 4
b. Land development : 19
c. Flood Control & protection : 46
d. Rural Connectivity : 147

I. Tuipang RD Block:

1. No. of households : 4502
2. No. of days employment provided : 100 days
3. Fund Received : Rs. 59508349.00
4. Fund utilized : Rs. 51595120.00

5. Works taken up (in nos.):

a. Water conservation : 27
b. Land development : 47
c. Flood Control & protection : 127
d. Rural Connectivity : 182

II. Saiha RD Block:

1. No. of households : 7396
2. No. of days employment provided : 100 days
3. Fund Received : Rs. 104344510.00
4. Fund utilized : Rs. 97142285.00

5. Works taken up (in nos.):

a. Water conservation : 23
b. Land development : 168
c. Flood Control & protection : 201
d. Rural Connectivity : 250

I. Tuipang RD Block:

1. No. of households : 4702
2. No. of days employment provided : 62 days
3. Fund Received : Rs. 44530397.00
4. Fund utilized : Rs. 44530397.00

5. Works taken up (in nos.):

a. Water conservation :18
b. Land development : 23
c. Flood Control & protection : 35
d. Rural Connectivity : 126
e. Afforestation : 41

II. Saiha RD Block:

1. No. of households : 7450
2. No. of days employment provided : 62 days
3. Fund Received : Rs. 46693503.00
4. Fund utilized : Rs.46693503.00

5. Works taken up (in nos.):

a. Water conservation : 8
b. Land development : 27
c. Flood Control & protection : 5
d. Rural Connectivity : 103
e. Afforestation : 34