NREGS launched in East Khasi Hills District

Shillong, Dec 7 (UNI) Meghalaya Chief Minister D D Lapang has said that the Centre's National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme(NREGS) can help in eradicating poverty from the state.

Official sources said here today that Dr Lapang gave the statement while launching the NREGS in the state's East Khasi Hills district yesterday.

The scheme ensures to provide hundred days of job per year to people willing to work at Rs 70 per day. However, if the job card holders were not given any work within days after application, the government has to provide unemployment allowance to the card holders.

Dr Lapang said efforts were being made to uplift those below poverty line through schemes like the IAY, SRWP, Old Age Pension and others.

The Chief Minister also appealed to the people to take full advantage of the scheme and said the scheme could be effectively implemented if the Village Employment Council and Area Employment Councils work with dedication.

He informed that under the scheme, provision of hundred days employment to the beneficiaries is mandatory and urged the concerned agencies to provide work to the deserving.

UNI