India launches rural aid project (BBC) (Also in the Khaleej Times)

The PM launched a food-for-work scheme on Sunday that will pay the equivalent of five kilograms of grain for each day's work - mostly paid in food but including a small cash sum. The workers will help build roads, bridges, canals and work on water conservation and flood prevention projects.

The federal government has allotted 20.2 billion rupees (US$450 million, €348.27 million) for the plan.

(Previous entry on the topic that highlights corporate (rather than govt) initiatives: Solving rural unemployment through technical training)