NREGA workers in Mid-Day Meal Scheme: Govt panel

Employment under the job guarantee plan should be extended beyond 100 days in SC/ST-dominated districts and the beneficiaries under UPA's flagship programme should be involved in projects like Mid-Day Meal Scheme for transforming the rural landscape, a high-level panel has said. 

"In districts where more than 50 per cent of the working population belong to SCs and STs ... The cap of 100 days of employment should be removed," the National Commission for Enterprises in the Unorganised Sector (NCEUS) said in its report.  

Underscoring the need for convergence of the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) with other programmes, the commission said workers are given jobs under the programme and they should be involved in the Mid-Day Meal Scheme. 

"Coupling of work activities offered under the NREGA with provision of social services (e.G involving workers in activities such as preparing meals for the Mid-Day Meal Scheme....Should also be explored," the commission, headed by noted economist Arjun Sengupta, said.  

The commission which has completed its tenure coinciding with the completion of the UPA Government's tenure also suggested that the Reserve Bank be advised to give strict instructions to banks on payment of wages under NREGA.

"Amount should be withdrawn only in the presence of NREGA workers...Pasbooks should be updated when money is withdrawn," it said.

On the progress of NREGA, launched in February 2006, the commission said there are sharp contrast in terms of state-wise performance.  "In some states, the scheme has been plagued with teething problems and is yet to take off," it said.

Andhra Pradesh, Kerala and Rajasthan have successfully implemented the NREGA programme, but Jharkhand and Bihar are facing problems in implementing the scheme, it said.     

Jharkhand is facing problems due to non-constitution of Panchayat Raj Institutions, Bihar has problems related to shortage of staff, poor infrastructure and low administrative capacity, it said. 

While terming NREGA as 'important productive employment programme', the panel said at operational level its achievements are still short of its potential, overall.  

"A central requirement in the NREGA is the creation of appropriate structures and capacitating the same for effective implementation ... However, we find the implementation apparatus to be inadequate and ill-capacitated," the panel said.   

The commission submitted its report to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh last week and has also recommended that NREGA activities should be taken up in Class B and C municipalities.