Govt To Extend Scheme To Ensure Jobs

The employement ensurance scheme, presently in force in 3,026 blocs of the country, will be extended to the remaining 2,246 blocs.

The scheme ensures employment to two able-bodied persons from a rural poor family for at least 100 days in a year.

A government spokesman said the implementation of the scheme would be spread over this year and the next, and would be finalised with the help of the state governments.

The expanded scheme would create an additional 3,145 lakh mandays of employment each year. Roughly, it will involve investment of Rs 20 lakh per bloc in the remaining three months of the current year.

 

Prime Minister Deve Gowda has already announced the doubling of budgetary outlays for anti-poverty schemes in the eighth plan to Rs 60,000 in the ninth plan.

The All-India Conference of Central and State Haj Committees, held recently, had reviewed the arrangements made for Haj pilgrims last year.

A parliamentary committee that returned from an on-the-spot study of the boarding arrangement for Indian Haj pilgrims, suggested that the issue be taken up with the Saudi officials. The Muslim community in the state has a major role in influencing poll results in the state.

In order to provide `pucca' arrangements, the cabinet on Tuesday asked Air India to be the nodal agency for air charter negotiation, taking contracts and implementation of the contracts.

The cabinet also cleared the setting up of 15 family courts in the National Capital Territory under the Family Courts Act, 1984. The courts would work towards bringing about conciliation to protect the institution of marriage. The cabinet also approved the signing of a tourism agreement between Indian and Scychelles.