National

Ombudsman under NREGA planned

NEW DELHI: The Rural Development Ministry has decided to form an expert group, to be headed by Moolchand Sharma, vice-chairman, University Grants Commission, for examining institutional mechanisms for the establishment of an Ombudsman under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA). The group will submit its report within six weeks.

The other members of the group include Principal Secretary, Rural Development (Rajasthan), Ram Lubhaya; Secretary, Rural Development (Kerala), S.M. Vijayanand; and Principal Secretary, Rural Development (Andhra Pradesh), K. Raju .The Joint Secretary (NREGA), Ministry of Rural Development, and representatives from the Ministries of Law and Justice, Labour and Employment, and Panchayati Raj and the Chief Vigilance Commission will also be part of the group.

The group will examine and recommend mechanisms for grievance redress under NREGA in the states. It will hold its meeting at regular intervals as per requirement. It will also interact with the state governments and other stakeholders.

Considering the huge scale of the programme and the large number of stakeholders involved, there is the likelihood of malpractices, according to an official spokesperson. In fact, a large number of complaints are being received in the Ministry on which State Government are being asked to take remedial action.

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