Tamilnadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa today increased the daily wages under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MNREGA) in the State by Rs 13, benefiting about 25 lakh workers.

'The Chief Minister has directed increasing the daily wages to Rs 132 from Rs 119,' a State government release here said.

The MNREGA envisages providing 100 days of employment to the rural poor.

'The Chief Minister is well aware that villages form the backbone of the country and the growth of the nation is dependent on that of rural areas. Hence she has been implementing various initiatives to improve the economy of people living in villages,' said the release.

Stating that MNREGA is being implemented in an effective manner all over the State, the statement said while the main target of the scheme is to ensure work for at least 100 days for rural people, its sub-target is to prevent soil erosion, stop harms being done to forests and to ensure that natural resources are safeguarded.

'The Chief Minister's order to increase the wage from Rs 119 to Rs 132 will enjoy over 25 lakhs workers under MNREGA in Tamilnadu,' it added.

Jayalalithaa has been showing special interest on villages, it is to be noted. A few months ago, she ordered to re-launch the Clean Village Movement, to ensure hygiene in rural areas of the State.

An official release here said the scheme was initially launched in 2003 by Jayalalithaa, during her earlier regime.

'The initiative aimed at recycling drainage water, prevention of defecating in public, solid waste management, setting up of toilet facilities in houses and schools, and recognising villages which properly implement the above things was not implemented since 2006-07.' said the release.

However, the Chief Minister has now ordered to relaunch the scheme, the release said and added that villages which cent per cent implement the initiative will get Rs five lakh as cash prize, it added.