New Delhi, Jan 21, : Union Minister for Rural Development, Raghuvansh Prasad Singh on Wednesday said that over 35 million rural households have been provided employment under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) during current financial year so far.

Addressing an international seminar on rural poverty in the national capital, Raghuvansh Prasad said, "NREGA not only provides an opportunity to strengthen the grass root processes of democracy, but also the livelihood security and an opportunity to live with dignity to the rural poor.

Singh said that average daily wage rate of agricultural labourers under NREGA had risen up to rupees 83 from 65 in last two years.

Prasad told the audience that the total outlay for the programme this fiscal is Rupees 300 billion but the impact of the programme on the lives of the rural poor is apparent with significant participation of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and women in rural works. (ANI)