New Delhi, May 17 (IANS): Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Narendra Singh Tomar on Sunday welcomed the 65 per cent increase in MGNREGS allocations to provide jobs to migrant labourers returning to their homes in rural areas amid the coronavirus crisis.

He also expressed his gratitude in this regard to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, who had earlier announced an additional Rs 40,000 crore under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS).

Rs 61,500 crore has been allocated under the MGNREGS in the 2020-21 fiscal. The new allocation is additional.

"The Narendra Modi government is taking full care of villages, poor and farmers. The additional allocation will help the rural labourers by generating 300 crore man days of work. The migrants returning home will thus benefit," Tomar said.

A few days ago, state agricultural ministers had urged Tomar during a videoconference to emphasise on water conservation and strengthening of rural infrastructure to boost village economy.