Effective implementation of NREGA a 'challenge': Govt

The government today accepted that effective implementation of NREGA with the aim of winning confidence of the common man was a "challenge" for it, and hence it needs to be applied as an Act and not a scheme.   

"Everywhere, including in Parliament, there are doubts in everybody's mind that the way in which NREGA should function, is not happening. Job cards are not reaching the beneficiaries, sarpanches are supposed to make plans but that is not happening and funds for material components are not being used properly. It is a challenge in front of us to ensure that NREGA is implemented as an Act and not as a scheme. There is a difference between a scheme and an Act," Minister for Rural Development C P Joshi said while addressing a workshop on NREGA here at Vigyan Bhavan.  

 

Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, a strong votary for NREGA, was the chief guest in the workshop, but did not address the gathering.        

Underlining the role of Information Technology (IT), Joshi said that by inculcating the use of IT in NREGA, "the confidence of the common man will have to be won to ensure that he gets all the benefits of NREGA". He added that he was open to constructive debate, discussion and even dissent on how to implement the Act with his ministry stakeholders.        

Referring to Gandhi, Joshi said that the young MP has encouraged his ministry to take the right steps.

"I would like to assure him that NREGA will become the new governing model in rural India ... We strive for transparency and will work to instil confidence in the poor, so that he realises that he is the real beneficiary of NREGA," Joshi said. 

Adding that funds were not a problem, he said that in the next three years, his ministry would set up Rajiv Gandhi Seva Kendras in all 2.5 lakh panchayats of the country.  

"So many ideas are being formulated and plans made for implementation of NREGA, but panchayats which are implementing it, have no proper place to do so. We will be setting up Rajiv Gandhi Seva Kendras in all 2.5 lakh panchayats of the country in the next three years. These would act as mini-secretariats for NREGA's implementation," the minister said.  

Joshi added that his ministry has decided "that we will strive for providing 100 days of employment under NREGA. We will also ensure timely payment of wages to job card holders, and also address the issue of uneven performances of states. The proposal of setting up an ombudsman to monitor its functioning would also be finalised soon and we will also see that NREGA is also implemented on a mission mode".  

With drought like situation prevailing in the country, the minister said that focus would be more to encourage building of ponds in villages and ensuring water harvesting facilities in them.  

He added that Andhra Pradesh has done well in implementation of NREGA, and therefore its model of social audit would be implemented in all states.