CEGC demands transparency in NREGA payment

Demands for transparency in wage payment under NREGA, giving "real wage" to workers and emphasis on "no deviation" from basic architecture of the scheme dominated the second meeting of the Central Employment Guarantee Council (CEGC) of the Rural Development Ministry today.

Rural Development Minister C P Joshi, who chaired the meet, said: "We are trying to work out different alternatives to ensure more transparency in payment to the NREGA workers."     

"A number of suggestions regarding this came in the meeting. There were also suggestions regarding the issue of increasing the limit of 100 days' work, enlarging the scope of the work under the scheme. The Ministry will take into account the suggestions of the Council and work accordingly."     

Planning Commission member Mihir Shah said the Council members stressed on payment of "real wages" to NREGA workers, which is also a commitment of the Central government.     

"Real wage means changes in price index will be reflected in wages. Real wage will increase as per price rise. There was an agreement in principle on the issue. Details have to be worked out," he added.     

Regarding the demand to increase the limit of 100 days of work under NREGA in view of drought, a large number of Council members felt the government should rather focus on providing the existing 100 days employment to beneficiaries in states. The states should spend money lying idle in their drought relief fund to make up for the additional requirement, they said.