Saturday, January 7 2006 19:24 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: The stage is virtually set for launching on February two the ambitious scheme of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Government for providing 100 days' of guaranteed employment to a member of every rural household with states making adequate preparations for it.

In the run up to the launch by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Rural Development Minister Raghuvansh Prasad Singh reviewed the preparedness of all State Governments during the last two days and asked them to be ready with advance preparations.

Official sources said the states have generally reported that they were 'already prepared'.

"All the states have assured (the Minister) that they would ensure adequate preparation before the day of launching," they said.

At the meeting, attended by state Secretaries of Rural Development, the Minister specifically took up issues like finalisation of state employment guarantee scheme, preparation of perspective plan and action plan, printing of job cards and registration forms and placing administrative machinery into position.

Establishment of state employment guarantee council,employment guarantee fund, training of personnel, publicity drive and proper monitoring were also stressed by the Minister.

The scheme will be launched in 200 selected districts and in five years the entire country will be covered.