Saturday, February 25, 2012

New MGNREGA will boost farm productivity,

Union Minister of Rural Development Shri Jairam Ramesh said that new version of MGNREGA will lead to better farm output as more than 25 agriculture and allied activities have been included in it. Talking to media here after receiving a Report on revised Operational Guidelines for MNREGA 2.0, the Minister said that the quantum of works provided in whole year indicates seasonal fluctuation with a huge share of works being done during the off season in agriculture. The Report was prepared by a committee headed by Planning Commission Member Mihir Shah. Rebutting the claims that MGNREGA is leading to fall in agricultural productivity, Shri Ramesh said, on the contrary the studies done by independent bodies suggest the rural job scheme has led to better farm output. He said, the new guidelines will also respond to demands of the states for location specific flexibility in permissible works as valuable suggestions from the states were incorporated in the guidelines. The recommendation will be implemented from the 1st of April this year and the Minister added that institutional mechanisms are being strengthened to check the leakages. He said, the rural job scheme should be utilised to improve the ecological balance in rural India and for rural regeneration.

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