Deficient rains: Govt to increase employment under MGNREGA

Chandigarh

With the monsoon predicted to be deficient this year, the Central government today said it is preparing plans for the states that would be the worst-hit as it announced that the number of days for MNREGA work in such states would be raised from 100 to 150.

The Union Minister for Rural Development and Drinking Water Birender Singh said arrangements would be made to provide drinking water in areas which may be hit by drought or less rainfall.

“We are preparing big plan in places which are going to be the worst affected. I have told Secretary Rural Development that states where we give 100 days of employment, we will make provision of 150 days so that people do not face problem in getting employment,” he said while addressing a press conference here on completion of one year of Modi government.

The plan is being worked out “in view of forecast of 14 per cent less monsoon rains this year”, he said.

Replying to a question, the minister said there was no question of changing the name of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MNREGA) and that the present government has done more to strengthen the programme.

“As compared to the previous budget allocation which was never more than Rs 34,000 crore, the present government has increased it to Rs 40,000 crore. While Rs 35,000 crore were allocated in Union Budget, the Finance Minister also announced Rs 5,000 crore more,” he said.

In addition, there was a budgetary ratio of 60:40 between labour and assets, which have been maintained, Singh said, denying the allegation that the central government would change it to 51:49.

He said that for the skill development of those working under MGNREGA, the government has for the first time implemented a new scheme known as Deen Dayal Upadhyay Grameen Kaushalya Yojana and National Rural Livelihood Mission. PTI SUN AKK

To a question concerning drinking water and sanitation schemes, Birender Singh said there were 11 crore houses where either the toilets have been constructed or are to be constructed.

While toilets have been constructed in five crore houses, these are yet to be constructed in six crore houses by 2019.

He said the issue of open defecation can be resolved by changing the mindset of people and not only by constructing toilets. For this, celebrities will be roped in, he said.

Referring to drinking water, the union minister said 17 crore houses in rural areas need potable drinking water.

A target has been fixed to cover 90 per cent of the population in rural areas to supply piped water by 2022 as against 50 per cent at present, he said.

Singh expressed concern that only 15 per cent of the population was being provided surface water and 85 per cent was getting underground water. This situation is to be reversed for which a massive plan is being formulated.

“Drinking water drawn from underground is disease prone, and you must have seen in some Punjab villages, heavy metals have been found, at some places arsenic and flouride. We have also formulated a programme in this regard as well,” he said.

He said the Prime Minister had desired that Rs 2,600 crore be given to different states in one go for drinking water supply. Therefore, this amount has been given to enable the states to achieve their targets of supply of drinking water, he said.

Replying to a question, Singh, who belongs to Haryana, praised the Manohar Lal Khattar-led BJP government in the state, saying corruption, especially at higher level, has been checked during its tenure.

He also credited Khattar for keeping the builders at bay in the hilly areas and said he was of the view that Aravalis and Shivaliks should flourish as green belts and have national level projects for conservation of environment.

Neither should there be mining nor construction of buildings in these areas, he added.

PTI