National conference to discuss NREGA

New Delhi, Oct 15 (UNI) A National Conference to discuss the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS) and the panchayats ended here today with a declaration to ensure that the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) was implemented through the Panchayati Raj system.

The two day conference, held at the Constitutional Club here, attended by Panchayat presidents and elected representatives of panchayats, declared that right to work in rural areas be treated as a livelihood right and operationalised through the Panchayati Raj institutions and states should ensure that the fund for NREGS was not diverted to any other purpose.

The declaration said works under NREGS have to be implemented as per a panchayat level development plan prepared by the panchayat and approved by the Gram Sabha and NREGS funds be transferred to the bank accounts of the panchayats.

Observing that NREGA was an important tool for the development and the growth of the rural population in India, the participants at the national conference resolved to work for a clean, efficient and people-oriented NREGA to achieve the Millennium Development Goals.

UNI AR JT CS2035