The Hindu : National : Lok Adalats for NREGA grievances under study

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Wednesday, Nov 05, 2008
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Lok Adalats for NREGA grievances under study

Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI: The Union Rural Development Ministry is considering a proposal to redress grievances of those seeking 100 days’ job in a year under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, through the Lok Adalats.

The Ministry said that it aimed at setting up an independent grievance redressal mechanism through the Lok Adalats in consultation with the National Legal Services Authority. The department has highlighted this fact in the directive issued to the States to incorporate the corrective measures suggested by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India in its latest report assessing the performance of the job guarantee scheme.

The Rural Development Ministry initiated the measure in the wake of growing complaints of laxity on the part of the authorities in issuing job cards to the below poverty level households seeking employment and registering their claims for an unskilled job. The Ministry has set up a toll-free helpline at the same time to redress their grievances.

Referring to other reforms suggested by the CAG, the Ministry has pointed out that it had mandated payment of wages through bank accounts only and that 4.22 crore accounts had already been opened in the rural areas. The Ministry directed the States to complete the process of opening accounts by the end of the current financial year.

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