The Hindu : National : Many States have failed to give NREGA jobs for 100 days: Joshi

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Many States have failed to give NREGA jobs for 100 days: Joshi

Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI: Within 24 hours of Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee announcing a 144 per cent increase in allocation for the UPA government’s flagship programme under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, the Centre revealed that despite its providing adequate funds, several States had failed to provide jobs to rural households for 100 days as stipulated.

Replying to a question and related supplementaries in the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday, Rural Development Minister C. P. Joshi said the national average of workdays for the last three years was just around 45. “NREGA guidelines have been given to States, but it is up to them to see that work is given to the rural poor and job cards are distributed properly to beneficiaries. However, the national average of number of days of work given under NREGA by various State Governments is inadequate.”

Complaints

The Minister was responding to complaints by members including Ramgopal Yadav (SP) that Rs. 100 a day provided under the scheme was far below the minimum wages notified by the States. Therefore, people were reluctant to work under NREGA.

Responding, Mr. Joshi said there were at least 15 States where the minimum wages were under or equal to Rs. 100 a day.

These included Uttar Pradesh, Assam, West Bengal, Maharashtra, Tripura, Uttarakhand and Madhya Pradesh.

A claim by some members that bogus job cards, carrying the names of the Gandhi family members, were being distributed led to protests from the Congress benches.

At this, Chairman Hamid Ansari asked members not to take individual names and to stick to the subject being discussed.

Mr. Joshi said the Centre was reviewing the norms and rules under NREGA, and provisions were likely to be made to punish violators.

Turning to the Left members, he said the West Bengal and Kerala governments had failed to ensure 100 days of job under NREGA. He said the States should also ensure that fake job cards were not distributed.

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