Imphal, March 29: With the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NRE-GS) launched in Ukhrul district today, all the nine districts of the State have come under the scheme.

Under the scheme, every individual, man or woman above 18 years of age are being provided job for 100 days in a year.

Launching the scheme for Ukhrul district at Town hall, Ukhrul district Hqs today, Chief Minister O Ibobi reminded that Tamenglong district was among the 200 districts selected from all over the country for the NREGS in the first phase in 2005. In the second phase, Churachandpur and Chandel districts came under the same scheme followed by other districts of the State.

Job cards provided to each family will remain valid for five years, Ibobi said while elaborating that public welfare works like conservation of water, protection of forests, improvisation of irrigation canals and drains and development of village roads may be taken up under the NREGS.

Besides improving social infrastructure of each village, the scheme can also certainly help in alleviating poverty in rural areas, Ibobi stated.

Claiming that the scheme can eradicate poverty, the Chief Minister directed the authorities concerned to implement the scheme with sincerity and dedication.

Highlighting the importance of effective cooperation and coordination among the all the stakeholders and the authorities, Ibobi assured that the Government will closely monitor implementation of the NREGS.

The Chief Minister informed that the Government is working to upgrade Tribal Development Block of Zinsong Maphou, Sub-Divisional circles of Jessami and Shahanphung to the level of Sub-Divisional cum Blocks.

In his presidential address, Rural Development Minister Md Allaudin Khan stated that nannies will be arranged at work sites if there are female workers with kids.

The nannies will be provided wages in the same rate entitled to all the workers.

Earlier at the beginning of the function, Chief Minister O Ibobi distributed job cards to head men of some development blocks.

Besides relevant officers, today's NREGS launching ceremony was also attended by Works Minister K Ranjit, TD Minister DD Thaisii, Chairman of Hill Areas Committee Thangminlen Kipgen, MLAs Bijoy Koijam, Khasim Ruivah, Denny Saiza and Wungnaoshang Keishing.

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