New Delhi: Government would revise its ambitious MNREGA programme introducing a mechanism to build resilience to natural disasters as well as adaptation to climate change, Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh said on Thursday.
"Adaptation to climate change and creating resilience to natural disasters is certainly one priority item for reform as far as national rural employment guarantee act is concerned," Ramesh said after releasing a book titled "Natural Hazards, Unnatural Disasters" at a function.
Ramesh said natural disasters could be prevented in "a more cost effective manner".
"We have the resources that can be put in place. All it requires is much more intelligent choice by local institutions which have the responsibility for implementing rural employment guarantee act and then providing the technical background," he said.
The Minister said in the beginning, the programme will be introduced in the areas vulnerable to climate change and disasters like coastal areas and "some of the hilly regions in the country".
PTI
First Published: Thursday, December 08, 2011, 22:26