<span style="color: #222222;">In order to mitigate economic hardships being faced by public due to lockdown, RDD, Jammu has started additional activities in rural areas outside containment zones. </span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">AIR Correspondent reports that the endeavor is to give an impetus to the rural economy and also facilitate employment of labour in rural areas. Resuming the development activities in the UT of J&K, Rural Development Department has started work under flagship employment guarantee scheme MGNREGA to provide much needed man days to rural populace amid the COVID-19 pandemic. </span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">Host of new works have been started and work on existing projects resumed across some blocks under MGNREGA and other schemes. The works are being executed as per the guidelines issued by the district administration for protection against COVID-19 pandemic. </span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">The workers are provided quality safety masks and the works are being executed by maintaining adequate social distance. So far in Jammu division, 5,800 works have started in all the ten districts under the MGNREGA. More than 25,000 job card holders have been engaged in these works. Director RDD, Jammu has instructed the concerned officers to complete all the works under MGNREGA, while ensuring the guidelines for protection against COVID-19 pandemic.</span><br />