The Centre has accorded permission for increasing the number of workdays under the Mahatma Gandhi Rural Employment Guarantee scheme in Tamil Nadu from the existing 100 days to 150 days. A release from the state government in Chennai says the rise in workdays is aimed at helping rural labourers, who are staring at job loss, as the state is affected by severe drought.<br/><br/>In Tamil Nadu, the rural job scheme is being implemented in 12,524 villages. This financial year, 33.43 man-days of employment have been generated so far under the scheme and Rs 4655 crore has been disbursed. Due to the enhancement of the work days, three crore more man-days are to be generated. Works like desilting of waterbodies in rural areas and maintenance of other rural assets are being undertaken under the scheme.