Earlier, Mr Birender Singh and the Deputy Director-General of the International Labour Organization (ILO), Sandra Polaski jointly launched a set of new training manuals developed in collaboration for – MGNREGA and PMGSY. The Ministry of Rural Development and ILO have also collaborated to pilot new and innovative ways of maintaining rural roads through simplified procedures. These ground-level initiatives involving local communities and contractors to maintain rural roads will enhance employment opportunities and improve the assets built.

Speaking on the occasion, Secretary, Rural Development Mr J.K. Mohapatra said that wage payment on time is a major issue in MGNREGA and this must be rectified through suitable interventions.

In her address, Ms Sandra Polaski, DDG (Policy), ILO commended the Government of India for their leadership and efforts in overcoming the challenges in rural employment through these flagship schemes and other programmes.