Date:31/03/2008 URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2008/03/31/stories/2008033151361500.htm

Back AP to extend rural job scheme to all districts

Action plan
The scheme will be introduced in the three remaining districts of Krishna, Visakhapatnam, and West Godavari from April 1 to make it a State-wide programme.
In the last 26 months, about employment cards were distributed to 88 lakh people, while employment was provided to 81 lakh rural poor.

Our Bureau

Hyderabad, March 30 Andhra Pradesh will extend the Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme to all districts in the State from April 1.

Introduced by the State Government in February 2006 in Bandlapalli village in Anantapur district, the scheme is currently being implemented in 19 districts in the State. The scheme will be introduced in the three remaining districts of Krishna, Visakhapatnam, and West Godavari from April 1 to make it a State-wide programme, Mr G. Chinna Reddy, Minister for Rural Development, Government of Andhra Pradesh, said in a release.

In the last 26 months, about employment cards were distributed to 88 lakh people, while employment was provided to 81 lakh rural poor. “Over 25.39 crore work-days were generated through the scheme benefiting 51 lakh families,” the Minister said.

The target for 2008-09 was to provide 100-days employment to 40 lakh people across the State, he added.

Wage distribution

The Government was in the process of ensuring distribution of wages to all workers under the rural employment guarantee scheme through smart cards.

The cards would soon be introduced in Warangal, Karimnagar, Mahboobnagar, Medak, Chittoor and West Godavari districts.

“Distribution of wages through smart cards has been taken up in six and two mandals of Warangal and Karimnagar respectively. By December, smart cards will be distributed to all beneficiaries in the State,” Mr Reddy said.

To ensure transparency in implementation of the scheme, the Government is conducting social audit in all villages.

The audit was conducted in 525 mandals. About 900 field assistants, 90 technical assistants, nine Mandal Development Officers and 12 computer assistants had been suspended due to allegations pending enquiries, the Minster added.