<span style="color: #222222;">In Tamil Nadu, the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Gaurantee Scheme (MGNREGA) as well as the Women's Self-Help Group (SHG) Mission are being effectively utilized to kick start agricultural activities and improve rural economy against the background of COVID-19 Lockdown.<br />''<br />''Priority is given to agriculture related activities under both the schemes. This is especially significant in the Cauvery Delta region where agriculture is one of the mainstays of rural economy.<br />''<br />''Nagapattinam, on the eastern Bay of Bengal coast in Tamil Nadu, is a district which faces water scarcity for agricultural processes also. In all, 57,000 employment opportunities under MGNREGA where created during the past two weeks. De-silting as well as cleaning of water pipes and irrigation canals are the main works being undertaken.<br />''<br />''About 4,000 SHGs had applied for loans for setting up small, rural, community based manufacturing and service oriented units. About 800 applications submitted on group basis have been approved.<br />''<br />''The District Rural Development Agency (DRDA) authorities have clarified that the move will prove instrumental in kick starting agricultural activities as well as giving a new lease of life to Tamil Nadu rural economy.</span><br />