New Delhi: People in drought-hit areas will get additional 50 days of work under the MGNREGA scheme due to monsoon deficit in various parts of the country.
At present, 100 days of work is provided to rural job card holders under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA).
The decision was taken in the Cabinet meeting on Wednesday after monsoon deficit widened beyond 15 per cent across the country, which could affect kharif crops and rural income.
Already, Karnataka has declared drought in 27 out of 30 districts, while Maharashtra, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh are also likely to declare drought-hit areas in their states.
“The Cabinet has given its ex-post facto approval to provide an additional 50 days of unskilled manual work in the financial year, over and above the 100 days assured to job card holders, in such rural areas where drought or natural calamities have been notified,” telecom minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said.
The move will enable states to provide additional wage employment to the rural poor in drought affected areas. “The poorest rural households will benefit from this, as it will help in immediate absorption of rural seasonal unemployment, and reduce rural distress,” he said.
Mr Prasad also listed other steps taken in view of the deficit monsoon.
