The Hindu : National : Manmohan for evaluation of NREGP

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Friday, Jun 22, 2007
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Manmohan for evaluation of NREGP

Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has called for an independent professional evaluation of the National Rural Employment Guarantee Programme and its impact on employment generation and social changes.

Reviewing the progress of the implementation of the programme at a special meeting, Dr. Singh also suggested the preparation of a district-wise report on the employment generation to be presented on Labour Day next year.

He asked the State Governments lagging behind in the implementation to learn from the well-performing States.

Decline in distress migration

Briefing the Prime Minister, Union Rural Development Minister Raghuvansh Prasad Singh said the scheme had led to a decline in distress migration, improvement in land productivity, and increased awareness among rural poor regarding minimum wages.

The meeting noted that there had been an increase in the wages as well as improvement in the participation of women in the rural workforce.

Also, the wage earners have been able to open savings bank accounts, take up insurance policies and improve literacy.

The Minister apprised Dr. Singh of the implementation of the scheme in 330 districts where more than 2.1 crore people have been provided employment under the NREGA.

This includes 1.2 crore persons from Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, and 0.8 crore women.

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