Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Thursday said the government was going to launch a massive food-for-work programme in 150 most backward districts of the country.

Noting that the government's emphasis on carrying forward the "rapid economic growth and social justice," Singh said the planned expenditure has been raised by Rs 10,000 crore (Rs 100 billion) which will be aimed at meeting the objectives of the Common Minimum Programme.

In the agriculture sector, he said the government planned to go for "ambitious" watershed development programme wherein all water bodies would be "renovated, modernised and made functional" over a period of seven years.

Singh said the scope of existing schemes for provision of drinking water was being expanded.

On employment, he said the Employment Guarantee Act was still in the process of being formulated.