In pictures: India's anti-poverty plan

India's landmark rural jobs plan is aimed at lifting tens of millions of villagers out of poverty

Some 70% of India's billion-plus population live in villages. Village councils will vote to decide on projects to be taken up

Many of them are expected to opt to improve roads connecting their villages, thereby strengthening rural infrastructure

Water conservation projects are also popular since many areas suffer from perennial drought

The plan is seen by many as the only hope of employment in areas where many villagers are having to migrate to look for work

Special provisions are being made for women with a third of the jobs being set aside for them to ensure the distribution of income is equitable

The new plan is seen as an ambitious programme to transform India's villages and improve the living conditions of the country's poor

The villagers hope that it can regenerate dry farmland like this canal, built by them under a similar plan, did

But critics question whether money spent on promoting unskilled, manual work is wise or even practical