Elders demand proper implementation of rural employment schemes

New Delhi, Dec 12 (UNI) Congress Rajya Sabha member V Narayanasamy today criticised his government's rural employment programmes, pointing out certain flaws which impeded the implementation of the schemes meant for uplift of rural poor.

He was supported by BJP member Venkaiah Naidu who called for political will to implement various schemes and joint action by centre and state governments.

Initiating a short-duration discussion in Rajya Sabha on 'the situation arising out of the tardy implementation of National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme in some states' Mr Narayansamy urged Rural Development Minister Raghuvansh Prasad Singh to curb corruption in states in the implementation of the scheme.

He also demanded uniform minimum wages throughout the country and called for regular monitoring of various rural development schemes.

''There are some forces in the country which are working against the interests of the nation. The Minister should identify such forces and come down on them,'' he added.

Mr Venkaiah Naidu, while pointing out flaws in the schemes, said district collectors were ''holding the key'' to rural employment programmes while it should have been in the hands of Panchayats.

''Bureaucracy has taken control of this entire scheme,'' he said.

He accused the Congress-led UPA government for not doing anything during the past 15 months and called for bringing in transparency and acountability and fear of the law while implementing the schemes.

Demanding a thorough review of the rural employment programmes, the BJP leader said budgetary allocation should increase and parties should desist from trying to score political points on the issue.

''In this country we have two countries...One is forward-looking India and the other is backward-looking Bharat,'' Mr Naidu said while calling for coordination between the centre and states in ensuring success of rural employment programmes.

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