Shimla, September 03: Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal today urged the Centre to evolve a measure to protect crops from menace of wild life under the ambit of NREGA.
Dhumal raised the issue while talking to Union Rural Development minister CP Joshi in New Delhi, an official release here said.
Farmers in HP were suffering losses worth crores due to damage caused to their crops by wild animals especially monkeys, he said and urged that a chowkidar or crop protector could be engaged to safeguard the produce under NREGA.
The HP CM said despite the fact the Central government is paying Rs 100 daily as wage to those working under NREGA, the state government has enhanced the wages from Rs 100 to Rs 110 from March 1, 2009 and has further increased it to Rs 138 in snow bound tribal areas of the state.
Due to increase in wages, the extra financial burden of Rs 24 crore per annum was being borne by the state government, he added.
Dhumal also advocated to enhance the centre-state ratio to 90:10 under Indira Awas yojna from 75:25 at present on the analogy of North-Eastern states.
—Agencies