New Delhi, February 2 (AGENCIES): National Advisory Council Chairperson Sonia Gandhi on Wednesday expressed concern over shortcomings in implementation of MNREGA scheme but put the onus of dealing with them on the state governments.
“I want to share some of my concerns with you. There are reports that its (MNREGA) funds are being spent on other works. Reports of forged job cards, fake muster rolls, fake names of labourers have come to light,” she said.
“Complaints about jobs and goods which are there only on paper, buying of very low quality goods and late payment of wages have also been heard,” Gandhi said at a function held here to mark five years of Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA).
“Despite appointment of district level officers, the present system of hearing and solving complaints of the people is not fully satisfactory. The basic facilities at the work place which should be there also cannot be called satisfactory. Due to this as many women as should be expected to work, do not,” Gandhi said.
She, however, sought to put the responsibility of dealing with these lacunaes on the state governments. “These are shortcomings which state governments should look into and take strict and prompt action to solve them,” Gandhi said. The UPA chairperson also emphasised on the need for further strengthening social audit and suggested that the help of women Self-Help Groups and NGOs can be taken in this regard.
Hailing MNREGA as a scheme which has given a new direction to empowering the rural poor, Gandhi said, “For the unemployed and semi-employed households- especially of the dalits and tribals communities- this is the lifeline and is being considered a basis of social security.” Gandhi also expressed happiness that “half of the beneficiaries (of MNREGA) are women”.
“MNREGA has helped in preventing migration to cities. The rural post offices and banks have not a new encouragement by keeping accounts of this scheme. Labourers working in fields are getting more wages now,” she said.
“I want to share some of my concerns with you. There are reports that its (MNREGA) funds are being spent on other works. Reports of forged job cards, fake muster rolls, fake names of labourers have come to light,” she said.
“Complaints about jobs and goods which are there only on paper, buying of very low quality goods and late payment of wages have also been heard,” Gandhi said at a function held here to mark five years of Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA).
“Despite appointment of district level officers, the present system of hearing and solving complaints of the people is not fully satisfactory. The basic facilities at the work place which should be there also cannot be called satisfactory. Due to this as many women as should be expected to work, do not,” Gandhi said.
She, however, sought to put the responsibility of dealing with these lacunaes on the state governments. “These are shortcomings which state governments should look into and take strict and prompt action to solve them,” Gandhi said. The UPA chairperson also emphasised on the need for further strengthening social audit and suggested that the help of women Self-Help Groups and NGOs can be taken in this regard.
Hailing MNREGA as a scheme which has given a new direction to empowering the rural poor, Gandhi said, “For the unemployed and semi-employed households- especially of the dalits and tribals communities- this is the lifeline and is being considered a basis of social security.” Gandhi also expressed happiness that “half of the beneficiaries (of MNREGA) are women”.
“MNREGA has helped in preventing migration to cities. The rural post offices and banks have not a new encouragement by keeping accounts of this scheme. Labourers working in fields are getting more wages now,” she said.
PM announces NREGA wage hike
New Delhi, February 2 (Agencies): Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Wednesday said wages would be hiked under the rural employment guarantee plan to offset inflation while UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi said it was time to introspect on the shortcomings of the rural jobs scheme. “We have decided to hike the wages as per the rise in consumer price index. This will raise the wages by 17 to 30 percent,” Manmohan Singh said at a function to mark the fifth anniversary of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA). The gathering was also addressed by Sonia Gandhi who called for new direction.
The Prime Minister recalled that the daily minimum wages of a worker in the scheme was Rs 65 when it began in 2006. “Now it is Rs 100, which itself is a big rise,” he pointed out. United Progressive Alliance (UPA) chairperson Sonia Gandhi said it was time to introspect on the shortfalls of the scheme and move forward in new direction. “The scheme has been a big success in creating employment for rural people, especially those belonging to weaker sections and women,” she said. “However, there have been complaints of irregularities and corruption too.”
“It is an occasion to analyse the shortcomings in the implementation of the scheme, plan new directions and move forward,” she said. Manmohan Singh said a substantial section of the beneficiaries of the NREGA were Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and women. The scheme has been able to boost rural economy, he added. He said the scheme was a “major step by the UPA government to fulfill Mahatma Gandhi’s dream of alleviating poverty”.
The Prime Minister recalled that the daily minimum wages of a worker in the scheme was Rs 65 when it began in 2006. “Now it is Rs 100, which itself is a big rise,” he pointed out. United Progressive Alliance (UPA) chairperson Sonia Gandhi said it was time to introspect on the shortfalls of the scheme and move forward in new direction. “The scheme has been a big success in creating employment for rural people, especially those belonging to weaker sections and women,” she said. “However, there have been complaints of irregularities and corruption too.”
“It is an occasion to analyse the shortcomings in the implementation of the scheme, plan new directions and move forward,” she said. Manmohan Singh said a substantial section of the beneficiaries of the NREGA were Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and women. The scheme has been able to boost rural economy, he added. He said the scheme was a “major step by the UPA government to fulfill Mahatma Gandhi’s dream of alleviating poverty”.
