The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Madurai News : Rural job scheme expanded to all panchayats in Madurai

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Thursday, Jul 31, 2008
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Madurai

Rural job scheme expanded to all panchayats in Madurai

On July 16, the scheme was extended to all 431 village panchayats

The scheme provides Rs. 80 for seven hours of manual labour
The use of machines, contractors and middlemen is banned

MADURAI: The National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme has been expanded to all village panchayats in Madurai district.

On July 16, the scheme, in its fourth phase, was extended to all 431 village panchayats. In the previous three phases, it operated in 212 panchayats. The Centre’s flagship scheme, implemented by the District Rural Development Agency, provides Rs. 80 for seven hours of manual labour. The use of machines, contractors and middlemen is banned.

“Administrative sanction has been given for 397 works as on July 29. The total estimate for the works is Rs. 24.42 crore. Work is under way on 384 sites,” Project Officer Anshul Mishra told The Hindu. Work could not be started in 15 places in Alanganallur and 10 places in Madurai West owing to water-logging caused by rain. In another nine places, he said, work would begin by Friday. On Tuesday, 22,764 persons from 19,849 families came for work in 275 panchayats, where 276 works are under progress. Of them, 3,323 were men and 19,441 women. “Payment for the 13th week was made on Tuesday. A sum of Rs. 70.18 lakh was disbursed in wages to 1,11,743 persons in 301 panchayats,” Mr. Mishra said.

In the 13 weeks of implementation, salary of Rs. 373.98 lakh was paid to 5,63,384 mandays of work. So far, 37 families had completed 100 days of employment, he said. The blocks closer to the city recorded low turnout, as villagers get higher wages doing chores in urban localities. Furthermore, many had gone for work in paddy fields.

“In two weeks, they would return, and the turnout is likely to increase,” Mr. Mishra said.

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