It is ensuring uninterrupted employment, timely fund flow, construction of houses and roads, and livelihood security under its various schemes to protect beneficiaries against the war impact, the ministry said in a statement.
Job security
The ministry said Rs 17,744 crore is being released as the first instalment towards wage payment under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS).
Also read | India is making a big move to outflank China in Sri Lanka
The programme, the ministry stressed, will continue with all its benefits until it’s replaced by the proposed Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) scheme later this fiscal. The government has budgetted Rs 95,692 crore for the new scheme for the current fiscal. Separately, it has allocated Rs 30,000 crore to honour any pending liabilities under the MGNREGS until the new scheme is implemented.
Rural housing
The ministry, under the Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana–Gramin (PMAY-G), aims to build 49.5 million houses by March 2029.
It’s prioritising timely direct benefit transfer releases and accelerated completion of houses under construction, as part of its preparations against possible material supply disruptions or price fluctuations, the ministry said.
“Strong convergence support through mandays, sanitation, drinking water, LPG and electricity is being ensured so that beneficiaries receive a complete package of basic amenities,” it said.
Structural measures, including the creation of material banks, are also being encouraged to bolster resilience against future market volatility.
Rural roads
Under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY), all sanctioned works under various phases of the scheme and road connectivity projects for areas affected by left-wing extremism are either tendered or under execution.
Also read | India seeks to cool war’s oil burn with flex-fuel shift
Under the fourth phase of the PMGSY, around 12,100 km of road works have been sanctioned and are at the tendering stage.
“At present, the exposure to global volatility remains limited, as bitumen constitutes a relatively small share of total project cost,” the ministry said.
Future project batches, it added, will be appraised to reflect prevailing market conditions and cost trends.
Agri and natural resource resilience
Meanwhile, the land resources department is implementing the Watershed Development Component of the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana 2.0 in five million hectares area to boost water conservation, agriculture intensification, horticulture and pasture development.
The department, as per the statement, is working closely with the agriculture ministry and others to address any emerging situation.