NREGS will check migration to urban areas: PM

New Delhi, May 26: Terming the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS) as the ''biggest success'' of the UPA government, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today expressed confidence that it would go a long way in bringing about a tremendous change in the rural areas of the country and check migration to urban areas.

''Under the NREGS, it is for the first time in the country that employment will be provided under a legal guarantee, for which an allocation of Rs 11,000 crores has been made this year,'' Dr Singh said, addressing the Convention of DCC Presidents on NREGS.

Noting the scheme will give assured employment of 100 days on demand, he said people in villages are sure to get Rs 6000 a year under the scheme. However, employment will be given provided in the village where there is a demand. Where there is no demand, unemployment allowance will be given, he added.

The Prime Minister underlined the need for the leaders present telling the people that the scheme was an initiative of the UPA government, for which bulk of the funds are being provided by the Union Government with only a fraction being contributed by State Governments.

Dr Singh also called upon the DCC chiefs to excercise strict vigilance to ensure proper implementation of the scheme, and see that it benefitted the needy. He suggested formation of vigilance committees in the villages for the purpose.

''Every person, desirable of employment, must register himself with the panchayat or programme officer for the purpose,''he said, adding the 'Job Card' gave a legal right to the holder for job.

''As many as one and a half crore cards have been distributed so far,'' he pointed out.

Giving full credit for launching of the NREGS to Congress President Sonia Gandhi, the Prime Minister said it was her who ''played a leading role in bringing it in and taking an unprecedented lead in framing the historic law.''

UNI