<p>Notwithstanding the scathing attack on UPA’s schemes, the Modi government would fall back on the previous regime’s flagship programme to rescue the rural economy from second consecutive deficient monsoon. <br /><br /></p>.<p>The government would intensify implementation of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) in drought hit areas to stop the slide in rural incomes. <br /><br />Officials revealed that the main thrust in MGNREGA implementation in drought affected areas will be around water conservation and harvesting.<br /><br /> “As many as 1.16 lakh projects related to water harvesting are being implemented under MGNREGA,” they said.<br /><br />The issue of intensifying the rural job scheme came up for discussion at a meeting convened by Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh on Friday to review the preparedness of various government departments in the wake of IMG’s predictions of deficient monsoon.<br /><br />Experts suggested increase in MGNREGA wages as a one-off measure in a crises year to assure income in rural areas when farm jobs would be fewer. <br /><br />They had also favoured offering more work under the scheme than a normal year, a move that would enable even small and marginal farmers to earn minimum wages.<br /><br />Congress has been accusing the Modi government of neglecting its flagship scheme by slashing budgetary allocations. <br /><br />In 2014-15, the scheme’s allocation was preened in the revised estimates to around Rs 31,000 crore from Rs 34,000 crore. <br /><br />However Finance Minister Arun Jaitley had given a marginal hike in the allocation for the scheme in February’s general budget.<br /><br />In remarks dripping with sarcasm, Modi had assured the Congress that MGNREGA, which assures 100 days of manual work a year to at least one member of every village household, will never be disbanded.<br /><br />“I will ensure MNREGA is never discontinued. It is proof of your failings. After so many years of being in power, all you were able to deliver is for a poor man to dig ditches a few days a month,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi told Congress in Parliament. <br /><br /></p>
<p>Notwithstanding the scathing attack on UPA’s schemes, the Modi government would fall back on the previous regime’s flagship programme to rescue the rural economy from second consecutive deficient monsoon. <br /><br /></p>.<p>The government would intensify implementation of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) in drought hit areas to stop the slide in rural incomes. <br /><br />Officials revealed that the main thrust in MGNREGA implementation in drought affected areas will be around water conservation and harvesting.<br /><br /> “As many as 1.16 lakh projects related to water harvesting are being implemented under MGNREGA,” they said.<br /><br />The issue of intensifying the rural job scheme came up for discussion at a meeting convened by Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh on Friday to review the preparedness of various government departments in the wake of IMG’s predictions of deficient monsoon.<br /><br />Experts suggested increase in MGNREGA wages as a one-off measure in a crises year to assure income in rural areas when farm jobs would be fewer. <br /><br />They had also favoured offering more work under the scheme than a normal year, a move that would enable even small and marginal farmers to earn minimum wages.<br /><br />Congress has been accusing the Modi government of neglecting its flagship scheme by slashing budgetary allocations. <br /><br />In 2014-15, the scheme’s allocation was preened in the revised estimates to around Rs 31,000 crore from Rs 34,000 crore. <br /><br />However Finance Minister Arun Jaitley had given a marginal hike in the allocation for the scheme in February’s general budget.<br /><br />In remarks dripping with sarcasm, Modi had assured the Congress that MGNREGA, which assures 100 days of manual work a year to at least one member of every village household, will never be disbanded.<br /><br />“I will ensure MNREGA is never discontinued. It is proof of your failings. After so many years of being in power, all you were able to deliver is for a poor man to dig ditches a few days a month,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi told Congress in Parliament. <br /><br /></p>
