Lack of awareness affecting NREGA implementation: Centre

The Centre today admitted that lack of awareness among rural masses,delayed payment of wages and non-maintenance of records in various states have affected the implementation of NREGA.

“Lack of awareness,inability of workers to submit written applications (for job),delayed payment of wages,non-maintenance of records such as muster rolls,and quality of assets created under the programme” are some of the problem areas relating to the implementation of NREGA,Union Minister for Rural Development CP Joshi said here in an all party meeting chaired by him.

Joshi informed the party leaders that priority of the ministry is now to ensure “convergence of NREGA with other schemes”.

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The all party meeting,convened for the first time by the Ministry of Rural Development to discuss on the issues relating to the implementation of NREGA,was attended by the representatives from the main Opposition BJP,CPI (M),SP and RJD chief Lalu Prasad besides leaders from ruling Congress and UPA ally NCP.

BSP and CPI have,however,skipped the meeting,sources in the ministry said.