07 Feb 2019

Central District Council (CDC) regional coordinator, Ms Godiraone Pitse says the Ipelegeng programme is in line with two pillars of Vision 2036, Human Social Development and Sustainable Economic Development.

Ms Pitse said this when presenting an Ipelegeng project memorandum for 2019/20, during a special CDC full council session in Serowe on Wednesday.

She said the pillars advocate for a moral, tolerant and inclusive society that provides equal opportunities for all and ensuring that prosperity is widely shared through active participation leaving no one behind.

She noted that the Ipelegeng project memorandum requested  funds to the tune of P197 290 970.08 for implementation of the 2019/20 programme in the district.

She said the funds would be used to implement a total of 800 projects with a total of 21 944 beneficiaries engaged on a monthly basis, resulting in a total of 263 328 having been engaged by the end of the programme, adding that beneficiaries would be able to use the income to improve their livelihoods.

Ms Pitse said they would be providing temporary relief to those who would partake in the programme, adding that local suppliers would also be engaged to feed the beneficiaries under the sustenance initiative.

“It also advocates for equality;  that the marginalised, youth and women should have equal access to services through the programme and that all qualifying individuals including men, women, people with disabilities and youth should be given an opportunity to be engaged in the programme,’’ she stated.

She told councillors that the theme for NDP 11, advocates for inclusive growth for the realisation of employment creation and poverty eradication as a way to improve the economic status of the beneficiaries in terms of employment creation and ultimately reducing poverty.

Ms Pitse said at commencement, the district plans to undertake minor construction and maintenance works as well as environmental upkeep and labour works in all villages within the district.

She noted that the plan was to commence the implementation of projects immediately after funds had been received to avoid delays in the completion of the programme.

She added that implementation would be done by all relevant stakeholders including the district council, office of the deputy district commissioner, village development committees and some central government departments.

Ms Pitse said the district shall engage suppliers from within the communities on a three-month rotational basis to provide meals to Ipelegeng beneficiaries, which she said was also meant to empower locals by providing them with a source of income on a temporary basis.

Councillors adopted the memorandum, stating that transport should be availed for supervisors and workers to finish at targeted times and avoid backlog.

Daily monitoring of projects will be done by VDCs and Ipelegeng coordinators, who will report to the sub-council district technical advisory committees before the report can  be forwarded to the headquarters for further submission to the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development. Ends