New Delhi: Noting that there are
"malpractices" in the implementation of MNREGA, Union Minister
for Rural Development C P Joshi today said there was need to
raise an administrative structure on which both villagers and
government could rely to look after the flagship programme.
"I don`t refuse to accept that there are leakages and
malpractices (in the implementation of NREGA) and so there is
need to raise such a structure on which both villagers and
government can rely," he said.
Joshi was addressing a group of about 53 "eminent"
people who have been recently appointed by the Ministry to
independently monitor the rural employment guarantee scheme.
Those appointed as NREGA monitors included Justice
(Retd.) M A Khan of the Allahabad High Court, former Vice
chancellor of Allahabad University R P Mishra and former DG of
CISF V L Vohra.
Joshi said delayed wage payment to NREGA workers,
unspent funds from the budget outlay, reports of
misappropriations in the implementation process are some of
the core issues that the ministry is facing.
"Involvement of eminent senior citizens is a step to
rectify the malfunctions noticed so far. Also, their visit to
the states and districts can provide a mechanism for an
independent third party assessment of the situation and an
important source of feedback to the Government," he said.
PTI