Budget 2014: MGNREGA to be revamped to make it development-oriented

MGNREGA, the flag ship rural employment scheme of the government, will continue, but the Modi government will revamp the scheme to make it 'development-oriented'.

The programme, assuring 100 days of guaranteed wage employment in a financial year to every rural household, has been subject to allegations of misuse and corruption.

“The government is committed to providing wage and self-employment opportunities in rural areas. However, wage employment would be provided under MGNREGA through works that are more pro ductive, asset creating and substantially linked to agriculture and allied activities,“ said finance minister Arun Jaitley is his budget speech.

The BJP government has allocated Rs 34,000 crore for the scheme, allaying the fear that the new government may scuttle it.

The outlay for the scheme in 2013-14 was Rs 33,000 crore.