NREGP facing dip in employment demand: CSE

A Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) study has said the National Rural Employment Guarantee Programme should focus on creation of productive assets to realise its potential to regenerate the village economy.

On the eve of extension of the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) to all the rural districts in the country, a CSE study released today said that despite NREGA's official focus on jobs, the programme was witnessing a dip in demand for employment.

"This is not because rural India does not need jobs any more, but because of the Act's lopsided focus and its imperfect wage-for-jobs scheme," the study pointed out.

"Our study shows that people essentially want two things "" productive assets and regular wages. Wherever the Act has failed to meet these needs, its implementation has collapsed," CSE director Sunita Narain said.