Guwahati, Dec 11: The National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGA) launched by the Centre has given a fillip to rural development and employment opportunities in many parts of the country.

The construction of a new `pucca road’ is changing the lives of villagers in Digaru, a tribal village in the Dimoria Block of Assam. The workers, a majority of them women, have been given employment under NREGA.

There are 34 more NREGA ongoing projects in Dimoria Block under which 20,117 job cards have been issued to the people. Each worker earns 100 rupees per day. The villagers are pleased with the double benefit– infrastructure development in their villages and employment for the people.

NREGA beneficiaries felt that due to the scheme the villagers have come forward to work and got the work in the village itself.

Residents of Digaru are happy about the road, saying it makes the transport easy.

“For the youths, it is a good initiative and at the same time the road connectivity of the place will be developed. This road will bring development and prosperity to villagers, felt Babul Tanti a local youth.

Dimoria falls in Kamrup District and is regarded as one of the most developed blocks in the State.

There are 20 village government blocks and the majority of people belong to the Karbi and Tiwa tribes.

For the successful implementation of the NREGA scheme, Assam has received over Rs 1,000 crore in fiscal 2009-10. (ANI)