CPI deplores UPA's 'high drama' over NREGP

New Delhi, Sep 29 (UNI) Deploring UPA Government's ''high drama'' in extending the National Rural Employment Guarantee Programme (NREGP) to another 265 districts in the country, the CPI today alleged that the programme had been delayed purposefully for the last two years.

The party, in a statement issued here, said that as per the National Common Minimum Programme (NCMP), the scheme should have been launched much earlier.

In fact, the scheme was limited to one-third of the districts in the first year, adding a few more in the following year. The promise of urban employment was yet to come into practice and there was no sign of any thinking regarding it, the party rued.

The Left was happy to note that the act would be ultimately coming into practice, though with several limitatons. Agricultural workers' organisations had no role yet in supervising it while nominated bodies of ruling parties slept over the problems raised.

The minimum wage was to be increased to Rs 100 per day, instead of Rs 60 per day. More categories of works should be included into the NREGP to make it more effective, the party asserted.

The CPI also demanded the Government to take immediate steps to control the rising prices of foodgrains. The party called upon the people to join in its nationwide campaign against price rise from October 1 to 10.

UNI