Bring khadi and dairy development under MNREGA: Govt

Thrissur: Minister for Rural Employment and Planning and Economic Affairs, K C Joseph today stressed the need to bring the productive zone under the purview of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act. Speaking after inaugurating a two-day national seminar on Panchayat Raj Institutions and its elected representative at the Kerala Institute of Local Administration at nearby Mulamkunnathukavu, he urged the Centre to take necessary steps to bring the production zone immediately under the purview of the Act. [caption id=“attachment_1090409” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  This image of a khadi weaver has been used for representational purposes only. AFP. [/caption] He stressed the need to bring cattle rearing, coir, Khadi and repeated agricultural processes under the Act’s jurisdiction and said the nation can enjoy the desired result only if production and agriculture are brought under its purview. If Agriculture and Dairy Development are brought under the Act, Kerala could attain self sufficiency in milk production in an year. If the present situation continued,existing cattle rearing personnel would vanish from the State in the years to come, the minister said. Joseph said Kerala had spent Rs 701 crore in 2011-12 and Rs 1415 crore in the last fiscal under the Employment Guarantee Scheme. He said If the production zone was not brought under the purview of the Act, the scheme would remain a ritual to simply disburse money to workers without having its desired effects. The minister for Panchayats and Social Welfare Dr M K Muneer presided. PTI