CM thanks PM Sonia for implementation of NREGS

Shimla, Oct 3 (UNI) Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh today thanked the UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for envisioning and launching the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS) in the country.

Addressing a public meeting at Shillai in Sirmaur district, he said the NREGS was a flagship of the UPA Government and would provide at least 100 days of employment to the beneficiaries or employment allowance on failing to provide work.

Mr Singh said the scheme had already been launched in four districts of the state and would soon be extended to the remaining eight districts.

Referring to the steps taken by his government to reign in rising prices of essential commodities in the state, he said the government had earmarked a sum of Rs 200 crore for providing cheap rations to the people through the fair price shops.

The quota of the rations have now been doubled to all categories of ration card holders from October one, he said, adding that the state was the only state to provide cheap rations to the people.

Without naming the BJP, the Chief Minister said it was misleading the people of the state by carrying out false propaganda and making false allegations.

Advising the people to remain vigilant against the vested interests who were misleading them, he said his government had succeeded in rising to the expectations of the people, who would once again vote in favour of the Congress.

UNI