New Delhi: A high-level meeting of the
Central Employment Guarantee Council chaired by Rural
Development Minister C P Joshi on Friday saw a number of
suggestions to improve the implementation of Mahatma Gandhi
National Rural Employment Guarantee Act.
The minister said "delays and denial in payment of wages
is the primary concern which needs to be addressed".
He emphasised the need to address the issue of corruption
in the scheme and said Information and Communication
Technology (ICT) would play a major role in overcoming it.
In this context, he referred to the use of biometric
system and collaboration with UIAID to provide unique identity
codes to the rural poor. The meeting also discussed the
reports of six working groups on different aspects that have
impact on the scheme.
CEGC member Aruna Roy demanded that the social audits in
the Gram Panchayats should be conducted by a third party and
not the Sarpanch himself, while another key member Jean Dreze
stressed the need to link wages under MGNREGA with Consumer
Price Index.
Madhusudan Mistry expressed concern over delay in payment
of wages and violation of rules and expressed annoyance over
the fact that State Council meetings have not been organised
in many states.
Member, Planning Commission, Mihir Shah suggested that a
clear road map of priorities and sequences must be set by the
Ministry and if required a small core group may examine the
recommendations and identify the priorities.
It was the 13th Meeting of Central Employment Guarantee
Council, the apex body to look into the implementation of
MGNREGA.
Addressing the CEGC members, Joshi called upon them to
examine the reports submitted by the working groups and
identify core recommendations so that the process to
streamline the implementation of Mahatma Gandhi NREGA can be
unfolded gradually.
He said many of these recommendations need to undergo
financial and legal scrutiny. He also said the issue regarding
enlarging the scope of works under MGNREGA can be addressed in
consultation with states.
The meeting was attended by the Minister of State for
Rural development, Pradeep Jain Aditya, Secretary Rural
Development B K Sinha, Secretary Panchayati Raj, A N P Sinha
along with other senior officials of the Ministry and CEGC
members.
On this occasion, the recommendations of six working
groups were also compiled into a "Synthesis Report" by
National Institute of Rural Development (NIRD).
PTI
First Published: Friday, August 27, 2010, 21:00