PM launches job scheme for poor

Launching the National Rural Employment Guarantee programme, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today said the government and people should work together in eradicating the poverty and unemployment in the country.

Addressing people after formally launching the programme, Singh said albeit substantial progress had been made by the country, the problem of unemployment and poverty were still haunting a large percentage of the population.

Terming the programme as "historic", the Prime Minister said the Congress-led UPA government at the Centre had already redeemed its election promises of food -for-work and right-to-work.

"The Employment Guarantee Act is the most significant measure of our times. This will give hope to those who have lost hope and will provide them a chance to live a life of self-respect and dignity," he said.

Referring to the recent Right to Information Act, Singh said there would be a proper implementation of the employment guarantee programme with the help of right to information. "These Acts make the government more responsible, transparent and accountable," he said.

To implement the vision of Rajiv Gandhi, gram panchayats and gram sabhas had been given a vital role in identifying the nature of works to be taken up under the programme, the prime minister said. "Those works, which would bring rural prosperity and improvement of rural conditions will be the objective of the government," he said, adding the government plans to provide rural infrastructure. He advised the state governments to put in place proper monitoring mechanism to ensure the fool-proof implementation of the programme.

Earlier, UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi said the government under the leadership of Manmohan Singh was taking steps to cater to the needs of the different sections of society.

Referring to the employment guarantee scheme, she said: "this is a new beginning towards the eradication of poverty and employment guarantee. People should take part in this endeavour. This is the first time that gram panchayats are made partners in the implementation." The initiative would help the country to leap-frog to development by empowerment of women and weaker sections in society, she added.

Chief minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy said the programme would eradicate poverty and the problem of farmers' suicide from the district.

"The founding fathers of our nation dreamt of a country free from poverty, hunger and unemployment. It is a serious concern that many people of the country still suffer from the age-old problems," Singh said.