Rajasthan launches 100-day urban jobs scheme

JAIPUR: Rajasthan CM Ashok GehlotFriday launched his ambitious Indira Gandhi Urban Employment Guarantee Scheme to provide 100 days of employment to urban families. Those in the 18 to 60 age group are eligible for the scheme under which at least 50 people in each ward of urban local bodies will be given employment. The government has allocated Rs 800 crore for the plan, which was announced in this year’s state budget.
Gehlot used the occasion to take a dig at PM NarendraModi, who had in July accused some rivals of using freebies (revadis) in their states to win votes. “We have seen revadis being sold on a handcart in (Jaipur’s) Johri Bazar. But providing free treatment and employment to the needy is the responsibility of the government, (it is) not revadi,” Gehlot said.
Calling it historic, Gehlot said the scheme — a take on central rural job scheme MNREGA — was prepared after studying similar ones run on a smaller scale in other states. Around 40,000 people were given jobs on the first day.