Madikeri: Chief Executive Officer of the Kodagu Zilla Panchayat K. Sundar Naik has urged the rural poor to take advantage of the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS) in Kodagu, which provided for 100 days of employment guarantee to them. A sum of Rs. 2.42 crore had been released to Kodagu under the scheme that became operational on April 1.

In a statement issued here on Tuesday, Mr. Naik said the families that needed employment could apply to the respective gram panchayats after registering their names. Applicants would be provided jobs within 15 days of submitting application in the five km limits of the respective panchayats. They would get a wage of Rs. 74 a day. Wages would be remitted to bank accounts opened by them.

He said those who sustained injuries during work or disability would be given a compensation of Rs. 25,000. Children aged up to five of workers would be taken care of at the work spot. Medical facilities would also be extended to such children, Mr. Naik said. Mr. Naik said preparations had been made for the implementation of the scheme. Officials at various levels had been trained in a workshop on April 17. Presidents of gram panchayats and members, presidents of taluk panchayats and members, zilla panchayat members and secretaries of gram panchayats were given training with regard to the implementation of the scheme on April 18 and 19.

Satellite-based training was imparted to officers, presidents of taluk and gram panchayats and gram panchayat secretaries here on April 27 and 28.

As part of publicity, efforts were under way to display slides in cinemas and advertising in newspapers, he said.

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