* Land belonging to SCs and STs to be made cultivable under NREGS

An extent of 20 lakh acres of land belonging to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes will be developed and made cultivable at a cost of Rs. 12,000 crore under National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme during the next three years. Minister for Rural Development & NREGS Minister D.Manikya Varaprasada Rao made this announcement at a media conference here on Friday after signing and releasing the order providing for the new scheme.

The scheme would benefit over 15 lakh SC and ST farmers and would be inaugurated by Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy on January 20. The Minister said he was happy for being allotted the Rural Development portfolio as he could serve the real poor. Describing the new scheme as a revolutionary step, he said it was expected to give boost to agriculture production and bring cheer to the disadvantaged sections.

He said a mass tree plantation scheme would also be implemented under NREGS. About 100 crore saplings would be planted during the next three years at a cost of Rs. 500 crore annually.

Published Date : Saturday, Dec 04, 03:05PM IST

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