Wednesday, August 24 2005 20:20 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Government today (Aug 24, 2005) asserted that Village Panchayats would play a pivotal role in implementation of National Employment Guarantee Scheme and money would not be a constraint in accomplishing the commitments made by United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Government in this regard.

Introducing the National Rural Employment Guarantee Bill, 2005, in Rajya Sabha, Minister for Rural Development Raghuvansh Prasad Singh said government was committed to provide 100 days employment to every rural household instead of only to 'poor' families suggested earlier.

He said initially the scheme would be implemented in 150 districts across the country, which could be further extended to 200 districts in due course of time.

Asserting that monetary constraints would not be allowed to hamper the implementation of the scheme, he said Programme Officers would be appointed at Gram Panchayat, Bloc and district levels to monitor the scheme.

The Minister also stated that one third of the proposed jobs would be reserved for women and even childcare facilities would be provided for those having kids and coming for work.

"They would also be given travelling allowances if they travel more than five kms", he said.

The Bill would also check rural migrationto urban areas

The Bill, he observed, would not only help generate employment and improve the lot of millions of people, but also check rural migration to urban areas.

Expressing confidence that within the next 15 years poverty and unemployment would be eradicated from the country, the Rural Development Minister criticised those opposed to the Bill and described them as 'anti-poor and anti-rural'.

Allaying apprehensions of opposition lawmakers on funds for implementing the Bill, he said the Centre has taken responsibility to provide financial assistance to the scheme and states only had to implement it.

However, if they failed to provide jobs within 15-days they would have to cough up unemployment allowance to the unemployed which no state government would like to, he said.

He said although different states/areas have different problems but states, in consultation with the Centre, could go ahead with desired schemes of their own.

The Minister said increasing the purchasing power of villagers was a must in order to boost industrial and agricultural production, which could be achieved through this Bill.

The Lok Sabha passed the Bill yesterday (Aug 23, 2005) after a marathon debate.