Bring transparency, accountability in NREGA

New Delhi, Sept 11 (UNI) Rural Development Raghuvansh Prasad Singh has called for total transparency and accountability in implementation of National Rural Employment Guarantee Programme in 330 districts of the country.

Addressing the Consultative Committee meeting of the Ministry here yesterday, Dr Singh said the Members of Parliament who are also the Chairmen of their respective District Vigilance and Monitoring Committee can play an active role in ensuring that the officials responsible for implementation of the programme are accountable and transparent.

He said the programme is progressing well and improving the daily lives of the common people in rural India. Dr Singh informed the Members about the out-come of the programme so far, its various components, financial progress and future plans.

He said people's participation was very important for the successful implementation of the programme in various districts of the country. He also asked the MPs to ensure strict vigilance and monitoring in every district of the country.

He particularly requested the Members of the Consultative Committee to visit various works' sites and point out the shortcomings to the officials concerned on the spot. He appealed to the Members to randomly verify the muster rolls and inform the Ministry also if there are any flaws.

The Minister said the States have been directed that social audit of each and every work of NREGA should be completed and the Ministry be apprised of the result of the social audit which is very important for the implementation of the programme.

The Members of the Consultative Committee congratulated the Minister for successful implementation of the programme and also pointed out certain difficulties and shortcomings in the implementation process. They stressed the need for ensuring the payment of minimum wages in every State which differ from State to State, unemployment allowance, and also improving the working conditions at the works' sites.

The Members also requested the minister to increase the number of districts in the next phase and to cover the entire country with in the programme. The meeting was also attended by the Union Minister of State for Rural Development Chandra Sekhar Sahu and senior officers of the Ministry.

UNI