Mayawati warns officials against going slow on NREGS implementation

Lucknow, Feb 16 (UNI) Amid a walkout by BSP members of a workshop on National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme organised by AICC general secretary Rahul Gandhi in Sultanpur, Chief Minister Mayawati today warned officials against going slow on the implementation of the central scheme in Uttar Pradesh.

Addressing a conference of district magistrates here, Ms Mayawati warned of stern action against officials who creatd hurdles in the implementation of NREGS.

She hoped that DM will take special interest in the implementation of schemes in their districts which ensures 100 days of employment to people living below the poverty line.

''I have also received complaints that DMs do not meet the common man in their office every day...orders were issued to meet the general public for two hours every day,'' she said.

''If any of the DMs is found absent from office during surprise inspection then strict action will be taken,'' she warned and asked to to check power theft in their respective areas.

Incidentally, BSP members of the Sultanpur district vigilance committee today walked out of a workshop on NREGS organised by Congress MP from Amethi and committee president Rahul Gandhi, charging the Centre with having a biased attitude towards UP.

The BSP members, led by party MP Mohd Tahir Khan, also regretted making Mr Gandhi the president of the vigilance committee.

They claimed that Mr Khan could have continued as the president as his LS seats had more assembly segments than Amethi. Mr Khan was removed as the president of the committee a year ago. The Amethi LS seat is part of the Sultanpur district.

The other BSP members who staged a walkout included Vinod Singh, a minister in the Mayawati goverment and MLAs O P Singh, Bhagelu Ram and Chandra Pal Mishra.

Mr Khan said the Centre had not been providing funds to the state for the Indira Avas Yojna and other developmental projects.

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