Flagship Programmes

• National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS): NREGS to be rolled out to all 596 rural districts in India with provision of Rs.16,000 crore; More money will be provided to meet the legal guarantee of employment as demand rises.
  
  
• Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM): Allocation for JNNURM increased to Rs.6,866 crore in 2008-09 from Rs.5,482 crore in 2007-08.
  
  
• Rajiv Gandhi Drinking Water Mission: Allocation for Rajiv Gandhi Drinking Water Mission enhanced to Rs.7,300 crore in 2008-09 as against Rs.6,500 crore in 2007-08;
  
  
• Total Sanitation Campaign to be provided Rs.1,200 crore in 2008-09.
  
  
• Desalination Plant near Chennai: Rs.300 crore in 2008-09 for a desalination plant near Chennai to be set up under public private partnership.
  
  
• North Eastern Region (NER): Ministry of Development of North Eastern Regionto be provided Rs. 1,455 crore. Including this amount, total Budget allocation for NER, to increase to Rs.16,447 crore in 2008-09 from Rs.14,365 crore in 2007-08.
  
  
• Development and Finance Corporations: Additional equity contributions proposed for National Minorities Development and Finance Corporation Rs. 75.00 crore, National Finance and Development Corporations for weaker sections comprising Safai Karamcharis, Scheduled Castes and Backward Classes. Rs. 106.50 crore, National/State Scheduled Tribes Finance and Development Corporations Rs. 50.00 crore, National Handicapped Development Corporation Rs. 9.00 crore.
  
  
• Scholarships: Pre- and post-matric scholarship programmes announced in previous Budgets for SC, ST, OBC and minorities to get further funds in 2008-09: Scheduled Castes (Rs.804 crore), Scheduled Tribes (Rs.195 crore), Other Backward Classes (Rs.164 crore) and Minorities (post-matric) (Rs.100 crore).
  
  
• Rajiv Gandhi National Fellowship Programme supporting SC and ST students pursuing M.Phil and PhD courses allocated Rs.75 crore in 2008-09.
  
  
• Minorities: Allocation to the Ministry of Minority Affairs increased from Rs.500 crore in 2007-08 to Rs.1,000 crore in 2008-09; Report of the Justice Rajindar Sachar Committee taken up for speedy implementation.