Aizwal, Sep.8 By generating employment opportunities through infrastructure development projects, the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) has helped people in rural areas of Mizoram.

In Vairengte, located about 130 km from Aizawl, the state capital, many villagers are being employed in road construction projects.

They earn rupees 103 per day.

The roads help the farmers to sell their agricultural products.

The project is being implemented in three phases to cover all the eight districts of Mizoram.

Over 100,000 job cards have been sanctioned for the current financial year (2009-10) at a cost of around rupees 1.67 billion rupees.

"This scheme is beneficial for rural people because most of the people, about 70-80 per cent doesn't have job in Industrial or Private or Government sectors. So, this kind of scheme is very helpful for them," said Zomingthang, Superintendent under NREGA in Mizoram.

"After the coming of NREGA, we are getting jobs. We can earn our own day-to-day livings now. The project is also aiding in the development of our village. We are very happy," said Joeph, a local resident.

Mizoram Government has sent proposals to the Centre for other developmental schemes related to agriculture, forest, water resources, land resources and rural roads that will help in increasing the productivity of assets and resources under NREGA.

Such developmental projects are hoped to improve the living conditions of people in Mizoram. By Pinaki Das (ANI)