Effective implementation of NREGA a 'challenge': Govt

New Delhi, Aug 20 (PTI) Government on Thursday said
effective implementation of its pet three-year-old flagship
national project to guarantee rural employment was proving to
be a "challenge" amid "doubts" whether it was giving the
desired results.

Watched by All India Congress Committee (AICC) general
secretary Rahul Gandhi who is in the forefront to ensure that
United Progressive Alliance (UPA)'s National Rural Employment
Guarantee Act (NREGA) is a success, Rural Development Minister
C P Joshi said, "Everywhere, including in Parliament, there
are doubts in everybody's mind that the way in which NREGA
should function, is not happening."

"Job cards are not reaching the beneficiaries, sarpanches
are supposed to make plans but that is not happening and funds
for material components are not being used properly," he said
addressing a workshop on NREGA here.

Joshi said it is a challenge to ensure that NREGA is
implemented in a manner in which legislations are implemented
and not as a scheme.

Rahul, a strong votary for NREGA, was the chief guest in
the workshop but did not address the gathering.

"I would like to assure that NREGA will become the new
governing model in rural India. We strive for transparency and
will work to instil confidence in the poor, so that he
realises that he is the real beneficiary of NREGA,"Joshi said.

Joshi said his ministry will strive to provide 100 days
of employment under NREGA, ensure timely payment of wages to
job card holders and also address the issue of uneven
performances of states.

"The proposal of setting up an ombudsman to monitor its
functioning would also be finalised soon and we will also see
that NREGA is also implemented on a mission mode." PTI ASI
SDE
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