Date:03/01/2009 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2009/01/03/stories/2009010355550800.htm

Karnataka

Schedule of rates for NREGS released

Special Correspondent

CHICKBALLAPUR: To ensure that more people take up work under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS), the State Government has introduced a schedule of rates (SoR) that provides for different tasks with effect from January 1.

Minister for Panchayat Raj and Rural Development Shobha Karandlaje told presspersons here on Friday that she issued an order on introduction of SoR on Thursday.

With the introduction of SoR, workers under NREGS throughout the State would be able to earn at least Rs. 100 a day.

The matter would be brought to the Union Government ’s notice during a review meeting of the NREGS scheduled to be organised in New Delhi on January 7, Ms. Karandlaje said.

While reviewing the implementation of NREGS and other schemes in Chickballapur district, the Minister said it was unfortunate that elected representatives and officials had failed to explain various provisions of NREGS to the people.

Ignorance

For instance, people from the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes, who work in their own fields, were eligible to get wages under the NREGS, she said.