Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme facing teething problem: Aiyar

Bangalore, Sep 4 (UNI) The central government-sponsored Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (REGS) faces some initial problems due to various reasons including failure on the part of bureaucracy in effectively implementing it, Union Minister for Panchayat Raj Mani Shankar Aiyar said today.

''The Rs 4,000 Crore REGS, which is yet to take off in many parts of the country, is not a failure but faces teething problem due to various reasons including failure by the bureaucracy to effectively implement the scheme'', he added.

Speaking to newsmen after addressing a Convention of elected women representatives of Panchayat Raj Institutions in Karnataka, he said, ''I will not say that the REGS was a flop. It has been by and large successful. Problems that were not expected had arisen. This requires reasonable and rational solution.'' He said that those who were in real need of this scheme were not getting it and there had been some irregularities. It was the responsibility of the State governments to ensure implementation as Panchayat Raj came under their perview and the Union government was more than willing to provide funds to such schemes, Mr Aiyar noted.

Karnataka government has come under criticism from the UPA government for not showing interest in implementing the scheme which was aimed at helping the poorest of the poor in the rural areas despite many parts of the State reeling under draught conditions.

UNI RS MSP VD RN1802