NREGS broad based in Puducherry in view of drought

Puducherry government has broad based works under MGNREGS to ensure that rural workers hit by drought were able to earn their livelihood, Chief Minister V Narayanasamy said today.
Desilting of water bodies, laying of footpaths and constrution of playgrounds in government schools would be important works to be taken up under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme in Karaikal and Puducherry regions, he told reporters here.
The number of days for job under the schemes would also be raised from present 100 to 150 days.
He said the intention of the government was to ensure that farm labourers and those belonging to the poor Scheduled Caste families were able to get jobs to eke out their livelihood.

He said his government had intensified steps to finalise the drought relief for the farmers in the two regions which faced severe drought.
On admission of students to first MBBS course in private medical colleges, the Chief Minister said he had contacted the Union Health Minister to ensure that the Union Territory was earmarked 137 seats in the first year MBBS course in deemed to be universities for students of the UT.

"We are deprived of the 137 seats consequent to the Centre taking over the allocation of the seats," he said.
Parliamentary Secretary to the Chief Minister K Lakshminarayanan, who was also present, said government had been informed that the three nominated MLAs, whose selection is mirred in a controversy and legally challenged, were approaching government departments for sanction of projects.

It would not be proper for the members to approach the departments as 'legislators' although they can contact the officers as ordinary citizens, he said, citing the pendency of case against their induction in court.