New Delhi: The union budget 2008-09 has awarded the UPA government's flagship programmes - National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS), Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM), Rajiv Gandhi Drinking Water Mission (RGDWM) and Total Sanitation Campaign (TSC) enhanced allocation.

Presenting the budget in Lok Sabha today, the finance minister, PC Chidambaram asserted that more money would be provided to meet the legal guarantee of employment under NREGS.

Perhaps reflecting on the popularity of the programme the minister also informed the Lok Sabha that NREGS would be rolled out in all 596 rural districts of the country.

He said that an amount of Rs16,000 crore would initially be provided for the purpose.

The allocation for JNNURM would be increased from Rs5,482 crore in 2007-08 to Rs6,866 crore in 2008-09.

Similarly, the allocation for RGDWM has been enhanced from Rs6,500 crore in 2007-08 to Rs7,300 crore in 2008-09.

An amount of Rs1,200 crore has been provided for the TSC in 2008-09.