Rural distress easing following good monsoon

New Delhi, Aug 21 (PTI) Rural distress as a result of twoback-to-back drought years has begun to show signs of easingfollowing good monsoon rains and is reflected in thesubstantial decline in the number of labourers employed underthe MNREGA in last two months, a top government official todaysaid. "Monsoon rainfall has been better so far and thereforearea under cultivation is also higher than in past two years,when severe rainfall deficiency hit farmers. As a result thenumber of workers engaged under various Mahatma GandhiNational Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MNREGA) projects hasalso declined," Rural Development Secretary Amarjeet Sinhatold PTI. The Met Department has forecast better than normal rainsfor the four-month season ending September. The number of workers and demand for work under MNREGArises sharply during the time of drought. As the small farmersand peasant move away from agriculture and look for otheroptions to earn their livelihood. In the first week of June more than 1.37 crore workerswere engaged in MNREGA which has come down to about 40 lakh atthe start of this week, according to official data. "This clearly shows that rural distress in the country iseasing, but still there are small patches in one or two stateswhich witnessed uneven rainfall. We will continue to providethem all essential support and funds," Sinha added. He said, in the April-June period this year, the 89 croreperson days of employment was generated as against 54 croreperson days under the government’s flagship rural employmentprogramme last year. Sinha, however, made it clear that the government wouldnot scale down the works and funds under MNREGA, despite thesituation easing in rural areas. The government had last year increased the number ofworkdays under MGNREGA from 100 days to 150 days indrought-hit areas. The objective of MGNREGA is to enhance livelihoodsecurity of rural households while creating durable assets anddiscouraging migration. The focus of the scheme is on water conservation, waterharvesting, drought proofing, land development, flood controland rural connectivity, among others. The scope of the schemehas also been extended from time to time. PTI JTR SKIKA