Chief Minister P.K. Dhumal today launched the National Rural Employment Guarantee Assurance Scheme (NREGA) in the remaining eight districts of the state at a function held in Chamiana panchayat in Mashobra block of Shimla district. Speaking at the launch ceremony, he said the government would consider bringing about necessary changes so as to enable direct elections for the zila parishad, panchayat samiti, gram panchayat and other urban local bodies. "This will help in providing stability to these grass level units of democracy and make them more effective,' he said. Dhumal said all aspects of holding direct elections would be examined so that direct elections can be held. The government has decided to appoint 1,181 gram rozgar prerak under the NREGA to create awareness amongst the people about the benefits of the scheme so that maximum people are benefited and employment is provided to the card holders. He said each prerak would look after three panchayats as a result of which all 3,243 panchayats would be covered under the scheme. "The government is committed to empower the gram panchayats with more power so that they can function effectively for the speedy development of their areas,' he said. Dhumla said till now the NREGA had been launched in Sirmaur, Chamba, Mandi and Kangra districts but now the entire state would benefit from the scheme. He asked the panchayats to create awareness about the scheme, which aims at providing employment to youth within the radius of 5 km. Horticulture minister Narender Bragta and secretary rural development Srikant Baldi were also present on the occasion. HAMIRPUR: Hamirpur DC Nandita Gupta today inaugurated the NREGA in Hamirpur district at Bamsan block by distributing cards to eligible youths. She said availability of water is very important for developing life in the rural area and appealed the people to accord priority to water and land conservation. The DC said 14,609 works have been approved by different gram sabhas under this scheme and 14,530 cards have been distributed and asked the people to take maximum benefit from this scheme.