The scheme is being implemented in five districts now. Sources in the government said that due to the code of conduct imposed in the state on account of Panchayat and Zila Parishad elections (in May and June), the implementation of the scheme has been delayed.
The scheme was supposed to be implemented in all the districts from April 2008. It was first launched in Punjab on February 2, 2006 and only district Hoshiarpur was selected.
The Centre then decided to cover three more districts namely Amritsar, Nawanshehr and Jalandhar under NREGA during 2007-08. This fiscal year only Miktsar has been added under the scheme and the remaining will be added within 2-3 months.
According to sources, the scheme is running successfully in all five districts of the state. In the last fiscal, Centre sanctioned Rs 22.30 crore from this scheme.
Total funds available with the state in fiscal year 2007-08 was Rs 52.27 crore, which includes centre share, state share and miscellaneous receipt. Out of the total Rs 30.04 crore has been incurred for various development works under the scheme.
