The Union Cabinet gave ex post facto approval on Wednesday to provide an additional 50 days of work to Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme beneficiaries during the current financial year wherever drought or natural calamities have been notified. The scheme guarantees 100 days of work.
The decision will enable the States to provide additional wage employment to the rural poor in drought-affected areas, the release said. “The poorest rural households will benefit from this, as it will help in immediate absorption of rural seasonal unemployment and reduce rural distress.”
Rurban MissionThe Cabinet approved the Rs. 5,142.08-crore Syama Prasad Mookerjee Rurban Mission, which is aimed at transforming rural areas to economically, socially and physically sustainable spaces.
A go-ahead for the promulgation of the Negotiable Instruments (Amendment) Ordinance, 2015, was also given. The objective of the proposed amendments to the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881, is to ensure that a fair trial keeping in view the interests of the complainant by clarifying the territorial jurisdiction for trying cases for dishonour of cheques, said the official release.
The Cabinet approved a scheme to enable Exim Bank to offer concessional finance to support Indian companies bidding for strategically important infrastructure projects abroad where the repayment of the loan would be guaranteed by the foreign government. This will help Indian companies bid for large projects abroad, it said.
The Syama Prasad Mookerjee Rurban Mission aims at development of rural clusters which have latent potential for growth in all States, which would trigger overall development in the region. “The Rurban Mission will thus develop a cluster of smart villages,” the release said.
