Farm labourers' wages should be as per MNREGA norms: Guj CM

Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani today suggested that farm labourers should be given wages as per the provisions of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act(MNREGA).

He made the suggestion while participating, through video conferencing, in the first meeting of a sub-group of chief ministers formed to bring about a convergence between MNREGA and the agriculture sector.

The sub-group, headed by Madhya Pradesh CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan, was created by NITI Aayog, in order to increase farmers' income, the release said.

During the meet, Rupani suggested that on-field agricultural activities should be brought under the ambit of MNREGA.

He added that farm labourers should be given wages as mandated by the MNREG Act and to do so, Rupani suggested a change to the guidelines of MNREGA, the release said.

The Gujarat CM exuded confidence that an integrated approach for the agriculture sector would double farmers' income, it added.

Other agricultural activities which the Gujarat CM suggested be brought under MNREGA were water conservation, weekly farmers' markets, production of organic fertilisers as well as collection and grading centres.

Rupani also suggested that allied activities, such as cattle rearing and construction of poultry farms, be included under MNREGA.

After the meeting, Chouhan had proposed to hold regional workshops to brainstorm on the suggestions made by CMs today, the release said.

It was also decided that the second meeting of the sub-group will be held in the end of August, the release added.