The Centre has cleared proposals for rural roads worth Rs 4,440 crore which includes areas in Orissa reeling under Left-wing influence. Union rural development minister C P Joshi told reporters on Wednesday that the empowered committee for Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) approved the proposals, taking the total approved projects under Bharat Nirman and PMGSY to Rs 40,000 crore.

He said projects worth Rs 236 were cleared for Orissa which includes roads in areas with Maoist presence, Rs 197 crore in Andhra Pradesh and Rs 235 crore in Punjab.

Joshi said the Centre would launch the National Rural Livelihood Mission in October. The revamped Swarnajayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana (SGSY), which aims to spread the reach of microcredit and give skill development to poor, is being readied for launch on Gandhi Jayanti.