PM to launch food for work programme on Sunday

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will launch the National Food for Work Programme at Aloor village in Andhra Pradesh's Ranga Reddy district on November 14.

 

The NFFWP is part of the United Progressive Alliance government's poverty alleviation programme. It also finds a mention in the UPA's Common Minimum Programme. The NFFWP launch will coincide with the birth anniversary of the country's first prime minister, Jawaharlal Nehru.

 

Official sources said the programme will initially cover 150

most backward districts of the country and provide supplementary wage employment to the rural poor. Though it is a Centre-sponsored scheme, states would have to bear transportation cost, handling charges and taxes on grains.

 

The district magistrate, the nodal officer, will prepare a perspective five-year plan of work with experts' help. The plan will cover water conservation, drought-proofing and land improvement on priority.

If local needs require, flood control, rural connectivity of all-weather roads and other work to ensure economic sustainability may also be included in the plan, the sources added.