Date:03/10/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/10/03/stories/2008100356731300.htm

National

PM to States: speed up rural job scheme

Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has asked the States to put in place a mechanism to rigorously evaluate the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) Scheme.

He was speaking at a function on “Initiative on Supporting the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme through State Legal Services Authorities” here on Thursday.

“Some States have shown good results. Some are lagging behind. I urge the states that have been behind to make all effort to catch up with the more progressive ones,” he said.

Pointing out that faulty design of a programme could derail it, the Dr. Singh said: Our mechanism for evaluating programmes needs considerable improvement.

“I have already given instructions for examination of the issue so that we can put in place an institutional mechanism for rigorous and independent evaluation of the flagship schemes,” he said, adding that the outcome of the evaluation should serve as feedback for improving programme design.

States’ involvement

Dr. Singh said the involvement of the local government was an important factor as the panchayat was the best institution to implement the Act. “We cannot depend entirely on the benevolence or commitment of a few good civil servants ... wherever local government institutions are active and committed, the delivery is better,” he said.

He suggested mobilisation of public opinion for better results, and said loopholes should be plugged to ensure that the programme benefited the poor.

The Prime Minister said that in States where panchayats were not active or not adequately empowered, the State governments must move forward and ensure the successful implementation of the programme.

The flagship scheme launched by the United Progressive Alliance in February 2006 was extended to the entire country this year to provide at least 100 days of gainful employment to each rural household.

Appreciating the efforts of the legal fraternity in making the rural poor aware of their rights under the programme, Dr. Singh said they needed to be educated that the programme was not supply driven but granted to them the right to employment.

He said the target group should be made aware of the procedural aspects so that they were not exploited or taken advantage of by officials and contractors.

Dr. Singh said the legal fraternity could educate the officials who implemented the programme.