New Delhi, Oct 2 Prime Minister Manmohan Singh announced on Friday that the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS) would be renamed as the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS).

Addressing a Panchayati Raj conference here, Singh said the dedication of NREGS to Mahatma Gandhi was a fitting tribute to the Father of the Nation.

India is commemorating the Golden Jubilee of Panchayati Raj system.

Addressing the gathering on the occasion, Congress president Sonia Gandhi said the NREGS needs to be made effective in the coming time.

Under the NREGS employment has been provided to 3.05 Crore households in the country.

The NREGS has taken up 23.65 lakhs works in last five years and completed five lakh works. Another 18.65 lakh works are in progress under NREGS.

Later in the day, both Sonia Gandhi and Manmohan Singh are scheduled to address a public meeting in Rajasthan's Nagaur District to mark the Golden Jubilee of the Panchayti Raj system.

In 1959, Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru launched the Panchayti Raj system in the same district.

Panchayats have and continue to play a vital role in the development of rural India.

The majority of rural development programmes are implemented with the help of Panchayats. (ANI)