Finance Minister Arun Jaitley today said NDA government has not only advanced MGNREGA scheme, but also allocated more funds for it. Speaking at a function to celebrate transformation of MGNREGA in New Delhi today, the Finance Minister said this will be the first year when MGNREGA and other development schemes will not suffer last-minute budget cuts.<br/><br/>Saying that consumption in rural areas has gone down due to two weak monsoons, Mr Jaitley said it is important for government to step up spending as rural demand has been badly impacted. He said inspite of global economic slowdown, India is growing at 7 per cent. He said there is no control on crude price and global economic slowdown.<br/><br/>Speaking on the occasion, Rural Development Minister Chaudhary Birender Singh said MGNREGA has reached 8 crore rural population and addded that the target this year is to reach 11 crore people. He also said 18 lakh MGNREGA workers will be provided skill development training. AIR correspondent reports MGNREGA today completes ten years of implementation.