Tripura sets record in implementation of NREGA

Agartala, Jun 20 (UNI) Tripura has set a record in implementation of the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) in the last fiscal in the country, while the Ministry of Rural Development has asserted to release Rs 269 crore next month out of a total of Rs 518 crore for the financial year 2008-09.

Referring to the meeting in Delhi on June 16 under the Chairmanship of Union Rural Development Minister Raghuvansh Prasad, Tripura Rural Development Minister Jitendra Choudhury told mediapersons here today that the Centre had appreciated the achievement of Tripura's NREGA implementation last year and agreed to provide double the amount in the next year.

''Average mandays in Tripura during 2007-08 was 43, which is the highest in the country and Rajasthan obtained the second position at 42.25, while major other states like Jharkhand recorded only 31.39, Madhya Pradesh 29.88, Kerala 29.69, Chattishgarh 25.78 and Gujarat 22.74,'' Mr Choudhury said.

He, however, pointed out that other Northeastern states were far behind in the implementation grade and Tripura could have done better, if the fund was placed on time and speedy manner.

Mr Choudhury has also lashed out at the Centre's policy of releasing the NREGA fund to Tripura and said only 10 per cent of the sanctioned budget of the programme had been released after three months of the financial year and added that finally, the Ministry had succumbed to the state's pressure and agreed to provide Rs 518 crore in the current fiscal, which was only Rs 218 crore last year.

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