Tamil Nadu to Implement Urban Employment Scheme

The Government of Tamil Nadu is going to launch an urban employment scheme on the lines of Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) with a budget of RS.100 crore. The main objective of this scheme is to improve the livelihood of urban poor said, K.N. Nehru, Minister for Municipal Administration, Urban and Water Supply on Tuesday.

The Minister said at the time of answering to debate on demand of grants for his department,  “In the current year, it will be implemented in two zones in Greater Chennai Corporation, one zone each in other Municipal Corporations, one municipality each in under the seven Regional Directorate of Municipal Administration and one town panchayat each in 37 districts”.

Unlike other states, Nehru said the city's population in Tamil Nadu is growing rapidly, reaching 60% of the total population by 2036.  A total of 4 crore people are living in urban areas which is 53% of the total population.

Further, Nehru added that the government would implement the Kalaignar Urban Development Scheme with the cost of Rs.1000 crore as it is announced in the State budget. He said, “Infrastructure including community hall, markets, modern libraries will be created in municipalities and town panchayats”.

According to the government sources this is a pilot scheme and government will soon issue guidelines for providing wages under the scheme.

The aim of this scheme is to provide employment to urban poor who have lost their jobs in COVID-19 pandemic. In the committee headed by former RBI Governor C Rangarajan has suggested that the Tamil Nadu government should launch an employment scheme in urban areas where people have suffered from unemployment due to the pandemic.

A senior official said, “Thousands of jobs were lost and the government discussed ways to create jobs for them. Under the scheme, workers will be used for activities such as desilting of water bodies and maintenance of public parks and other places”.

A memorandum has been submitted by the State government to Centre as fund is required for an urban employment scheme.