NRID to assess the implementation of NREG in Orissa

Bhubaneswar, Dec 17 (UNI) National Institute for Rural Development (NIRD) is scheduled to complete the survey on the implementation of National Rural Employment Guarantee (NREG) scheme in Orissa by January 25 and submit its report to the government by the third week of February.

NIRD faculty chief Raja Kutty told Chief Secretary Ajit Kumar Tripathy at a meeting here today that in the first phase the survey would be taken up in 40 of the 120 gram pachayats and later the survey of other 80 gram panchayats would be taken up.

The Orissa government had entrusted the Hyderabad-based NRID to assess the scheme after Central Institute of Environment and Food Security, a Delhi-based NGO, alleged more than Rs 500 crore corruption in the implementation of the scheme.

The scheme initially started in 19 districts in 2006 and later it was extended to five more districts of the state.

Official sources said the NRID would would conduct the social audit of the scheme with the help of six NGOs selected by it and the faculty members drawn from Rural Management department of Kalinga Insitute of Technology, Xavier Institute of Management and IPFP.

During the survey the members of the Gram Sabha and Palli Sabha would be involved and if required the period of survey would be extended.

UNI