The Hindu Business Line : AP: Rs 1,300 crore for rural job scheme

THE Andhra Pradesh Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme, set for launch on February 2, will be implemented in 13 districts of the State with an outlay of Rs 1,300 crore for the first year.

This will be extended to other districts of the State in the next year, following an assurance to support this scheme by the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh.

Briefing newspersons here after the State Cabinet meeting today, the State Information Minister, Mr Mohd Ali Shabbir, said that the Cabinet has approved the scheme implementation and each district would be allotted Rs 100 crore for the first year. Out of this, while the Centre would provide Rs 90 crore per district, the State contribution will be Rs 10 crore.

Based on the information gathered from each family, the State would provide an employment card and ensure that eligible members of a family are provided job opportunity. Irrespective of who the employee, men or women, they would be entitled to Rs 80 per day, which would be paid within 15 days.

In a situation, where the Government failed to provide them a job, they would be provided Rs 20 per day for one month, followed by Rs 40 per day for the next month, he said.

The State Government has constituted a Group of Ministers to critically appraise the scheme and give recommendations on the draft scheme. The scheme is designed after the GoM made about 55 recommendations.

Apart from training people to extend support to this scheme, the Government has put in place a computer software that will help monitor and ensure proper implementation, thereby bringing in necessary transparency and accountability.

Meanwhile, the State Cabinet has also approved a move to issue an ordinance that will help amend the Fire Services Act 1999 with retrospective effect from February 1, 2001. This will bring in greater flexibility in terms of construction of apartments and the clearance limit has been enhanced from 15 meters to 18 meters.