Bhopal:Friday, July 25 : Job cards numbering one crore 12 lakh 85 thousand 566 have been distributed to the eligible beneficiaries under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS) in Madhya Pradesh till June end this year.
Madhya Pradesh is the first state in the country that has not only completed maximum number of works but also provided employment to the maximum people under the scheme. This has given unprecedented momentum to the process of rural development in the state.
Under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme, employment has been provided to as many as 26 lakh 33 thousand 448 beneficiaries till June end during the current financial year. Also, the central share amounting to Rs. 1477 crore 13 lakh has been received under the scheme during the period under report. These funds are directly diverted to the districts. Further, the state share worth Rs. 163 crore 80 lakh has also been made available to the panchayats in the ratio of central share. It may be mentioned that funds are allocated on the basis of works proposed to be undertaken under the NREGS. This is because of this fact that Madhya Pradesh is the only state in the country which has received maximum allotment of funds under the scheme.
Under the NREGS, as many as 48 thousand 541 works have been completed in the state during the period under report. In addition to this, two lakh one thousand 599 works are in different stages of progress. Under the scheme, works relating to water conservation and augmentation, afforestation and tree plantation in order to prevent drought; construction of canal, small and medium irrigation works, to provide irrigation facility to S.C., S.T. families on the land under their possession, renovation of conventional water structures, de-silting of ponds, land development, road linkage with all weather roads, flood control etc. are undertaken.