Rural employment workers to get wages through banks by June

New Delhi, Apr 22 : Rural Development Minister Raghuvansh Prasad Singh told the Rajya Sabha on Monday that National Rural Employment Guarantee Programme workers would get their wages through banks in two months time to avoid leakage or delay.

He said the government has taken a series of measures to plug loopholes in the implementation of the programme.

He also said that for effective implementation of the scheme, he would require the help of Members of Parliament, NGOs and people.

An amount of 48,000 crore rupees has been earmarked for the scheme. The Government has also assured that it will provide additional funds if the need arises.

Referring to Indira Awas Yojana, Singh said 60,000 houses are being constructed for the rural poor. The entire village population in the country would have access to safe drinking water by 2012, he added.

The Congress and its allies have described the scheme as a historic decision by the UPA government.

The Bharatiya Janata Party has called for evolving a more transparent and effective mechanism.

ANI