Setting in motion the revamp of the MGNREGS, the Modi government hopes to get States to design and roll out the village plans under the scheme in 100 days.
Minister for Rural Development, Drinking Water, Sanitation and Panchayati Raj Gopinath Munde will discuss proposals including a plan for all of India’s 6 lakh-plus villages to construct, as part of MGNREGA works, a pucca structure mandi that will serve as a foodgrains and vegetables market.
In addition, said the sources, Mr. Munde wants every village in the country to build a ring road under the scheme. Under its convergence policy, the Ministry allows use of funds from other social sector schemes as well in MGNREGS works. So, 250 blocks will also have recourse to the Backward Regions Grant Fund for the ring roads, said sources privy to the Ministry’s discussions. For farm produce supplies to the MGNREGS village mandis, the Agriculture Department will coordinate with the gram panchayats.
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Also as part of the 100-day agenda, the Ministry will identify solutions for curbing delays in wage payments to job workers. According to official data, about 40 per cent of the workers receive delayed payments (after the specified period of 15 days). In several cases, the delays are of up to three months.