The Hindu : National : Ombudsman to oversee NREGA complaints

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Tuesday, Jun 30, 2009
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Ombudsman to oversee NREGA complaints

K. Balchand

NEW DELHI: Having already received the Planning Commission’s pat for its transparency in the execution of schemes under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA), the Rural Development Department has decided to take the exercise a step further by setting up an ombudsman to redress grievances.

The department’s proposed agenda for 100 days includes a grievance redressal mechanism by setting up an ombudsman at the district level itself so that all complaints relating to the execution of the scheme, providing employment and payment or making unemployment allowances are taken up in right earnest and disposed of to the satisfaction of the rural masses.

Similarly, the Centre has initiated a new approach seeking the State government’s approval to conduct social audit of the programme at the district level with the caveat that it submit an action taken report to the Centre.

The department now has decided to enlarge the scope of work under NREGA, which currently is limited to unskilled manual work only. The new works would cover social and economic infrastructure and measurable social services.

Indira Awas Yojna

As regards the construction of houses under the Indira Awas Yojna, the department has set an ambitious target of constructing 40.52 lakh houses for which Rs. 8,800 crore had been earmarked during 2009-10.

The department hopes to finalise the restructuring of the Swarnajayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojna ahead of setting up a National Rural Livelihood Mission. Under the National Social Assistance Programme, the department intends to streamline payment of pension, ensure transparency in a concerted action for the welfare of women, youth, children, other backward castes, scheduled castes, scheduled tribes, minorities and differently abled and elderly people.

The department has decided to provide economic empowerment to widows below the age of 40 years and to those with 40 per cent disability.

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