MNREGA: Govt offers LIFE-line to young workers

JAIPUR: The Rajasthan Skill and Livelihood Development Corporation (RSLDC) will start a new initiative called the livelihood in full employment (LIFE) for youngsters who have completed more than 100 work days in MNREGA schemes.

With the project to be implemented soon, youngsters who engaged under MNREGA schemes in the state, will be provided skill training in as electronics, accounting among others, said managing director of RSLDC Krishna Kunal.

“The project LIFE aims to promote self-reliance and improve skill base of the youngsters in the state. The project life is being linked with flagship rural job scheme MNREGA and skill development, in order to generate a permanent livelihood,” he said. The project is planned to cater to youngsters who have completed 100 mandays under the employment guarantee scheme in the last two years, he said.“Rajasthan is the only state in the country to initiate such a project for youngsters.”

Kunal further said that on the basis of a survey conducted by the state rural Development department, more than 86,000 youngsters working under MNREGA scheme and have interest in other fields were covered.

A proposal of LIFE project was sent for approval to the Centre, which suggested incorporating it with ongoing Deen Dayal Upadhyay Gramin Koshal Yojna (DDU-GKY).

Earlier, the eligibility criteria for DDU-GKY was that the people in rural areas have completed 15 mandays.

The eligibility criteria now has been changed to 100-mandays for project LIFE, Kunal said.