States asked to streamline, regulate flow of NREGA funds

New Delhi, May 12 : Union Minister for Rural Development Dr. Raghuvansh Prasad Singh on Monday stressed upon the need to curb misappropriations in the implementation of the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) across the country.

Addressing the inaugural session of a two-day-long Performance Review Committee meeting for various Centrally Sponsored Schemes of his ministry here today, Dr. Singh asked State representatives to streamline and regulate the flow of funds in such a manner that the chances of irregularities could be brought to the minimum.

Highlighting the importance of awareness and transparency in the implementation of the NREGA, Singh advised the States to ensure the optimal use of durable assets created specifically for the social and financial uplift of the rural masses.

"There should be a proper grievance redressal mechanism so as to enhance the confidance level of the actual beneficiaries of the Rural Development preogrammes," Dr. Singh added.

He also referred to the engaging of the 260 National Level Monitors (LMs) for Special Monitoring of 330 NREGA districts and said detailed guidelines and formats have been provided to these monitors.

He said the NREGA provides for the employment guarantee of 100 days keeping in the lean period of the availability of work in the rural areas. He said it should be ensured that there is no migration of labors in distress.

Dr. Singh said the planning process should emerge from the Gram Sabha level and due attention should be given to the proper publicity and awareness generation. To achieve zero tolerance towards corruption Social Audit is a must, the minister added.

The opening of accounts of NREGA beneficiaries in Banks and Post Offices has been made mandatory and no processing fee will be charged for the operation of such accounts, Dr. Singh said. So far accounts for 1.60 crore families have been opened, he added.

A presentation on the progress of NREGA was also made in the meeting.

The second day of meeting will be attributed to the review of implementation status of the other Centrally Sponsored Schemes viz.,The Indira awaas Yojana (IAY), Below Poverty Level (BPL) families. Vigilance and Monitoring initiatives, Provision of Urban Amenities in Rural Areas (PURA), Swarna Jayanti Gram Swarojgar Yojana (SGSY), District Rural Development Agency (DRDA) Administration, the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) and the Indira Gandhi National Old Ae Pension Scheme (IGNOAPS).

ANI