MNREGA can play a big role in second green revolution : Sonia
New Delhi: Congress President Sonia Gandhi on Saturday said that MNREGA can play a big role to usher in second green revolution in India.
“I am of the belief that MNREGA has tremendous potential to increase agriculture production, which we have not been able to tap fully till date. There are many possibilities not only for creating community assets in villages but also providing irrigation facilities to small and marginalized farmers, developing land and promoting farming.
In his inaugural address at the conference, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said 30 new works have already been added to the list of works permitted under MNREGA, whose focus is by and large on providing employment in rural areas mainly through agriculture.
Besides direct financial benefit, the scheme has given many indirect benefits to the people and brought down the migration graph, he said.
“MNREGA has brought momentum in the financial inclusion of our rural population. More than four crore accounts have been opened in banks while more than that has been opened in post offices. These accounts will assist us in reaching the incentives of the Direct Benefit Transfer Scheme to the rural population,” the Prime Minister said.
Gandhi emphasised the need to strengthen the system to provide employment to workers within 15 days of enrolment and to ensure timely wage payment for their work.
“Apart from providing employment to the rural population, there is also a challenge of permanent assets creation, which is relevant in total rural development,” she said.
Singh also noted that 80 per cent of the wages being given to the women are going in banks and post offices. “Due to the scheme, the number of women is on constant rise, who take the financial decisions of their families,” he said.
This shows how much importance the government gives to the policies and programmes for inclusive growth, Singh said, adding that a close look at the seven-year record of MNREGA shows that it accrued benefits to the poorest in the society especially small farmers and landless labourers.
He said the scheme led to good results in management of natural resources, especially in rain-fed areas of the country.
“There are enough proofs that the scheme has helped to a great extent in getting the small and very small farmers a better produce by increasing land productivity and water conservation,” Singh said.
Stress has been given on better planning, increasing the role of panchayats and improving the quality of assets under the amended rules for MNREGA which are being formally implemented today, he said.
