SC issues notices to Centre, states on Rural Employment Scheme

New Delhi, May 15 (UNI) The Supreme Court today issued notices to the Centre and states on a petition alleging large-scale bungling in the implementation of the Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme.

A bench comprising Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan and Justice M K Sharma directed the Centre and the state governments to respond to the allegations levelled in the petition that food being supplied under the scheme is sub-standard and politicians and bureaucrats are involved in bungling in the distribution of funds alloted by the Centre for the implementation of the scheme.

Under the scheme, the youth of rural areas of the country is assured 100 days work/employment in a year.

According to the petitioner NGO, a random survey of six districts in Orissa has revealed a disturbing state of affairs and the food is not reaching the needy.

The money alloted for the scheme is being siphoned off allegedly by those in charge of implementing the welfare scheme aimed at reducing unemployment in rural areas and also to provide food for work.

Most of the beneficiaries of the scheme belong to the poor and the tribal sections of society and due to bungling the benefits of the scheme are not reaching them.

UNI SC AM RAI2007