Aiyar calls for Task force to monitor NREGS fund

Bhubaneswar, June 16 (UNI) Union Panchayati Raj Minister Mani Shankar Aiyar today urged the state governments to set up a task force to monitor the utilisation of funds available under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS) in their state.

Addressing the concluding session of the two-day conference of the Council of Ministers of Panchayati Raj, attended by as many as 14 ministers, Mr Aiyar said it should be the duty of each state to set up a task force to ensure that the money available under the NREGS must be utilised properly.

The Union Minister said Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) have an important role to play in the execution of the NREGS at the village level for which the capacity building has to be strengthened for the successful of the programmes.

But unfortunately the capacity building has not been adequately spelt out in the NREGS, he said adding that only 2 per cent of the total fund had been earmarked for it.

Mr Aiyar said the Union Rural Development Minister has been approached to earmark at least 6 per cent of the NREGS fund for capacity building.

Regretting that none of the state in the country has formulated any action plan as to how to spend the money for capacity building, the Union Panchayati Raj Minister said his Ministry would extend all cooperation to the state governments to undertake the training programme as one per cent of Rs 14,000 crores had been earmarked for the purpose.

Mr Aiyar said his March 7 letter to all the state governments to undertake training of capacity building had not been acknowledged till date. The Union Minister had urged the states to ensure that the District level officers should provide necessary training to the panchayat representatives.

He asked the Panchayati Raj Ministers present at the conference to act forthwith on his letter and train the PR representatives locally. Mr Aiyar even asked his private secretary to distribute the copy of his March 7 latter to the Panchayati Raj Ministers and the Secretaries for immediate action.

The Union Minister said even international fund would be available to support the programme if we plan properly to implement the NREGS.

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