Five lakh registered under NREGA in Himachal

"So far 5,20,203 persons have been registered and issued job cards under NREGA scheme in Himachal Pradesh while the process to register more applicants is on," Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal said.     

Dhumal said every card holder would be eligible to earn a total of Rs 10,000 as the state has fixed the daily wage at Rs 100 per day. The NREGA, which initially was implemented in four districts of Sirmour, Chamba, Kangra and Mandi, has been expanded to other eight districts of the state from April one.     

Dhumal appealed to MLAs and Panchayati Raj officials to educate people about the scheme. The CM, who returned from the capital last evening, said he succeeded in obtaining an amount of Rs 347.87 crore for the year 2008-9 from the Union Rural Development Ministry sanctioned for four districts where it started initially, according to an official release.