35 to 40 per cent increase in work days

A total of 8.32 crore labourers were provided work under the scheme between March and June: Jupally

Panchayat Raj and Rural Development Minister Jupally Krishna Rao said there had been 35 to 40 per cent rise in the number of work days provided as part of the MGNREGS during the last three months when compared with the same time last year.

A total of 8.32 crore labourers had been provided work under the scheme between March and June, he said, addressing a press conference at the Secretariat on Friday.

Plans were being drawn up to spend ₹3,000 crore on wages under the scheme.

Mr. Krishna Rao spoke at length on the department's preparedness for the 'Telanganaku Haritha Haram' programme, and said pits were being dug for plantations under the programme to be launched by Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao.

The Panchayat Raj department had set itself the target of 12 crore seedlings this year, against last year's 9 crore. Plantation works would be taken up under MGNREGS, and separate rates per plant were fixed for pitting, planting, fencing, weeding, watering and maintenance, he said.

VAOs and SHGs were made partners, Mr.Krishna Rao said and urged for participation of people’s representatives, women’s and youth organisations, teachers, SERP officials, and sarpanches, among others.

Officials at three levels, were assigned for the work.