Date:24/05/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/05/24/stories/2006052405011300.htm

National

Employment provided to 60 lakh people

Special Correspondent

Rs. 3,775.75 crore released for works under the employment guarantee scheme

NEW DELHI: Of the 70.9 lakh job seekers, 60 lakh people have been given employment under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme, Union Rural Development Minister Raghuvansh Prasad Singh informed the Lok Sabha on Tuesday.

Making a suo motu statement on the NREG Act, Mr. Singh said that according to reports received from the States, 2,44,77,877 applications for registration had been received, and 1,70,89,915 job cards issued. Adequate funds had been released to districts to support the schemes. The Ministry released Rs. 3,775.75 crore in the current financial year.

Final operational guidelines had been formulated after considerable discussions with States and representatives of multiple stakeholders; they had been communicated to all the States. The Ministry issued instructions to the States indicating the activities that need to be taken up on a priority basis.

The States were preparing schemes on the basis of the provisions of the Act and guidelines; they had to complete the exercise in six months. They had been asked to orient perspective plans to be prepared under the National Food for Work Programme towards the requirements of the NREG Act with the approval of gram sabha and the district panchayats.