Ombudsman for NREGA grievances under consideration: Minister

The government today said it is considering the appointment of an ombudsman to redress grievances relating to the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA).

"Yes. The issue is under consideration," Union Minister of State for Rural Development Pradeep Jain Aditya stated in a written reply in Lok Sabha to a query "whether the government has decided to appoint an ombudsman to redress grievances relating to NREGA".

To another question whether 100 days work as guaranteed was being provided to card holders under the UPA's flagship programme, the minister said, "NREGA is demand based. The Act provides a legal guarantee of 100 days of wage employment in a financial year to every rural household whose adult members volunteer to do unskilled manual work."

To ensure guaranteed employment to the households, steps have been taken to generate "greater awareness" among rural household about their legal rights under the Act, he said.

"It has been emphasized upon the states to deploy dedicated staff in the implementing agencies. Salary of such dedicated staff is being met out of the administrative expenditure admissible under the Act," Aditya informed the House.