Rural development minister Jairam Ramesh on Friday pitched for inclusion of green objectives and guidelines in the various social sector schemes of the rural development ministry like the flagship Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Scheme, Integrated Watershed Development Programme and Indira Awas Yojana.

“With an annual budget of around R75,000 crore, the ministry of rural development's schemes have an immense potential to contribute to the goal of sustainable poverty reduction and efficient use of natural resources,” Ramesh said while releasing a UNDP report on ‘Greening Rural Development in India’.