6.98 lakh provided employment under NREGS in Asom

Guwahati, Apr 19: Around 6.98 lakh people have been provided employment under the UPA government's flagship National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGs) in Asom till February, 2007.

Official sources said a total of 7.16 lakh households in seven districts of the state required employment, of which 6.98 lakh were provided employment late February this year.

The NREGA was initially launched during 2006-07 in seven districts. The scheme has been extended to six more districts in the current financial year.

According to official sources, the number of person day of employment provided in the state is 471.97 lakh.

''The average person days of employment provided in a district stands at 67.42 lakh compared to the national average of 36.47 lakh person days. Of them, 33.23 per cent are provided to women, 9.02 per cent to SC and 47.08 per cent to members of ST,'' the sources said.

The employment was provided on 12,659 works, out of which 7,260 works have been completed.

The average number of works taken up in a district stood at 1,808 against the national average of 3,581.

The average number of households provided employment in a district of the state was 99,751 against the national average of 91,685.

The sources further said an amount of Rs.239.71 crore was released to the state during 2006-07.

UNI