MNREGA execution patchy,says Jairam

Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh termed the implementation of UPAs flagship programme MNREGA as patchy.

Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh on Sunday termed the implementation of UPAs flagship programme MNREGA as patchy,and expressed concern at leakage of funds meant for the scheme. However,he hoped that the proposed NREGA 2.0 will deal with these problems.

There are serious,serious shortcomings in its implementation8230;. The record of its implementation is very patchy8230;and therefore,we have a huge challenge, Ramesh said at a programme here. He said while he is a strong supporter of MNREGA,we also recognise that there are very serious issues in its implementation which is detracting from its effectiveness which needs to be addressed sooner rather than later.

Referring to some of the shortcomings in its implementation,he said while the wage earner has to get his wage within 15 days of the last day of employment,the period may extend up to nine months onwards.

Quality of the community assets which the scheme seeks to create leaves a lot to be desired. There are,of course,the usual stories we read about in the press about leakages of funds, he said at a programme organised by the Public Diplomacy Division of the MEA.

Ramesh said a CM of a North Indian state had told him that NREGA has been responsible for the proliferation of Boleros and Pajeros in the state. The money that was meant for NREGA has been diverted for purchase of Boleros and Pajeros, he said.

He said the recently unveiled NREGA 2.0 could remove the shortcomings of NREGA 1.0 in the coming days when it is implemented in parts. But at the same time he insisted that the programme was not faulty but needed greater planning at the grass-roots level. I dont think we should draw the conclusion that this is a faulty programme. It is a programme which demands a very high degree of local level planning, he said.