February launch set for job guarantee

Funds for the scheme for the two months of this financial year have been worked out, the minister said. The Food for Work programme and the Sampoorna Gramin Rozgar Yojna were being merged and monies left over from these schemes would fund the NREG in 150 districts. 8216;8216;For the 50 remaining districts, Rs 305 crore has been earmarked,8217;8217; said Singh. The two months of the scheme would enable the Centre to get a clearer picture of how much money was required in the next fiscal.

For now, the minimum wage to be paid differs among states that have their own Minimum Wage Act 1948. But, Singh said, there is a provision in the act that enables the Centre to fix a minimum wage of not less than Rs 60.