Food-for-work again in Rajasthan

By Our Special Correspondent

JAIPUR, APRIL 20. Rajasthan proposes to re-introduce the Food-for-Work programme in the drought relief operations in the State. The Centre has agreed on principle to provide foodgrain. The proposal is to pay 50 per cent of the wages in grain - to be exact, in wheat - to the labourers employed under drought relief operations.

The government announced here on Wednesday its decision to enhance the existing daily sustenance allocation for cattle kept in camps, Gaushalas (shelters) and milch cattle, doubling it from May 1. The subsidy for transporting fodder from the districts too has been hiked from the existing Rs. 45 to Rs. 60 per quintal from next month.

The payments to labourers working under various relief programmes till April 15 would be cleared by April 30.About 4 lakh persons are at present employed under the relief and the number is expected to go up to six lakhs in May.Considering the gravity of the drought in various parts of the State,the Chief Minister, Mr. Ashok Gehlot, himself proposes to tour the Sirohi, Jalore and Barmer districts on April 22 and 23. The members of his Cabinet and senior officials have been asked to fan out in various other areas on these two days so that a first hand assessment could be made by the Government.

The State Government has also decided to incorporate the provisions of the Prime Minister's Rs. 2,500 crores Gramodhyan Yogna in drought relief for creation of durable assets in the rural areas. A proposal worth Rs. 250-300 crores for construction of rural link roads is being prepared. The State Government is optimistic about a positive response from the Centre in this regard.

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Section  : Regional
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