The need to modify the implementation of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) has been underscored by the Rural Development Organisation (RDO), an Aruvankadu-based non-governmental establishment.
Welcoming the move of the Centre to revamp the scheme, the Chairman, RDO, N.K. Perumal, in a letter to the Union Minister for Rural Development Nitin Gadkari, said that at present the scheme was not serving its purpose in many parts of the country.
While it was effective in drought-prone and coastal areas, places such as Ganga, Brahmaputra, Indus, Yamuna,Cauveri, Narmada, Krishna, Godavari, Mahanadi and Tapti belts are facing acute labour shortage. Consequently, agricultural activities are adversely affected. Hence, it should be implemented only in drought-prone and poverty stricken taluks.
Pointing out that it would facilitate diversion of funds for various other schemes, he said that the possibility of bringing the farm sector under MGNREGA should be explored.
