More funds for NREGA sought

At a time when the NDA government has been accused of “diluting” the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Rural Development has recommended higher fund allocation for it.

“Keeping in view the likely revision of wage rate and expected increase in outreach of households, the Committee is constrained to note that the allocation made for the current year does not seem to be adequate for effective implementation of the scheme for having wider coverage.

The Committee, therefore, recommends that the department should pursue with the Ministry of Finance and Niti Aayog for higher budgetary allocation of fund for MNREGA scheme,” the panel said.