15 extra days of employment under MGNREGS: CM

Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) in Karnataka would now guarantee an additional 15 days of employment, Chief Minister Jagdish Shettar said here on Tuesday.

Addressing a press conference on Tuesday, after conducting drought review meeting here, the Chief Minister said that acting on a recommendation made by the state government the Centre modified guidelines of MNREGS. Union Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh had extended number of employments days to 150 from the current 100 days under the scheme, Shettar informed.

“Construction of toilets is now available to all rural habitats,” he added.

Announcing that a draft of comprehensive water management policy was ready and would be implemented soon in the state, he said, “Officials should take up long-term water schemes to solve droughts effectively.”

The Chief Minister reinforced that the state was ready to open cattle grazing centres wherever necessary irrespective of the number of animals and directed officials concerned to respond to all such applications.

After inaugurating a 250-bed district hospital, Shettar said that he would appeal to the Centre to waive-off agriculture loans of farmers who have borrowed from nationalised banks. He also said that the state would get 45 de-fluoridation units and another 25 units would be approved in the next budget.