Centre's new project will link MGNREGA with skill development programmes

With an aim to promote self reliance and improve the skill base of MGNREGA workers, the government has formulated a new project linking the flagship rural job scheme with skill development programmes. 'LIFE-MGNREGA' is likely to be implemented in the middle of July and states have been asked to prepare their plans.

The ministry has formulated a project for 'Livelihoods in Full Employment' under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (Project LIFE-MGNREGA) in April 2015. 

"The project has been formulated in consultation with Deen Dayal Upadhaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojna (DDU-GKY) and National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM)," Minister of State for Rural Development Sudarshan Bhagat said in a written reply in Lok Sabha.

The minister said the Project 'LIFE-MGNREGA' aims to promote self reliance and improving the skill base of the MGNREGA workers, and thereby improving the livelihood of the workers, so that they can move from current status of partial employment to full employment status.

"The states have been asked to prepare the plans. The implementation is likely to be started in the mid of July," the minister said in the reply.

At the same time, he made it clear that there was no proposal to train people for works like laying of railway track, solar energy projects to provide jobs under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS).

The government has been of the view that being part of a "right-based framework", the MGNREGS could be effectively linked with skill development.

The RSS has also been making a strong pitch for skill development.