Polls on mind, Rahul asks PM to extend job scheme

With an eye on possible mid-term polls, the Congress today sought extension of the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) to the entire country, a demand Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said would be seriously considered. A decision on this, Singh said, would be taken shortly.

Newly appointed All India Congress Committee (AICC) General Secretary Rahul Gandhi led a Congress delegation to the PM and demanded that the Act, now in operation in 330 districts, be extended to the entire country.

The delegation told the Prime Minister that the Act, a landmark legislation of the UPA government, was one of the important promises in the Congress party manifesto and a key element of the National Common Minimum Programme.

Although the United Progressive Alliance's (UPA's) Common Minimum Programme declares that the rural employment programme would be implememted by 2009, Gandhi has moved in swiftly to showcase his concerns

The delegation said the measure would be in the interest of the aam aadmi and reinforce the UPA's commitment to banish poverty.

The NREGA guarantees 100-day employment to each rural household in a year, failing which compensation is given.

Amid speculation of early elections, the Centre has planned to launch soon the Aam Admi Bima Yojana, Health Insurance Scheme for Below Poverty Line (BPL) Workers, National Old Age Pension and the National Policy for Farmers, while the Unorganised Sector Workers Bill has already been introduced in Parliament.