The Centre has increased allocation under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) by Rs. 1,600 crore, from Rs. 2,400 crore to Rs. 4,000 crore for the year 2016-17.
Following severe drought in 139 taluks across the State, the Centre has raised the workdays under its flagship scheme from 100 to 150. With this cumulative person-days will increase from 6.2 crore to 10 crore this year, Minister for Rural Development and Panchayat Raj (RDPR) H.K. Patil told presspersons here on Monday.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah took an-all party delegation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and sought more funds under the MGNREGA to tackle drought.
Due to delay in release of funds, the State had released money in advance to beneficiaries under the scheme. In case of delay in payment of wages, authorities have to pay interest of 0.05 per cent to eligible beneficiaries.
