Workshop to discuss convergence in rural schemes

The convergence between the rural job guarantee scheme and other schemes in rural areas and with sustainable livelihood models in various states will be the theme of the discussion at a workshop here Tuesday, a release said.

The day-long national workshop on convergence of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) with other schemes will discuss livelihood models which can be replicated in other parts of the country.

Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh will inaugurate the workshop, which will be attended by officials from the ministry and states.

The release said that the livelihood resource base of the rural poor can be strengthened through convergence of the MGNREGS works with other schemes run by panchayats.

"Convergence of MGNREGS with other schemes relating to agriculture, forests, water resources, land resources, rural roads, anganwadi centres, drinking water and sanitation is being encouraged to increase the productivity of such assets," the release said.

It said states such as Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Odisha and Tamil Nadu would share their experience on how the convergence between the MGNREGS and Nirmal Bharat Abhiyan, a programme to ensure sanitation is rural areas, was successful.