The World Bank does not want the Indian government to continue with the National Rural Employment Gurranty Act (NREGA), which ensures at least 100 days' job for the rural people. The WB observed in its World Development Report 2009 that it would reduce migrating tendencies among rural people and that if they get jobs at their villages they would not venture to the cities and towns.
The Central governmen, however, feels that the NREGA must be given more importance and the implementation process should be intensified, espacially in the Left Wing Extreemism (Maoism) affected districts, in order to check speedy growth of the Maoists.
the NREGA, besides ensuring 100 days' rural jobs, also ensure that a job card holder in entitled to get the payments for 100 days even if the government fails to prodive him with jobs.
The Maoists are in full praise of the scheme and slams the cenrtral and state governments for not implementing the scheme properly as well as looting NREGA funds.
Here is one of my reportings published in Hindustan Times--
Guess who’s praising Govt’s rural job plan? The MaoistsSnigdhendu Bhattacharya, Hindustan TimesEmail AuthorKolkata, November 23, 2009First Published: 23:52 IST(23/11/2009)Last Updated: 02:23 IST(24/11/2009)The government’s pet project, the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS), has a new champion — the Maoists.“We urge the Centre to audit NREGS projects in the underdeveloped regions of (West) Bengal,” Koteshwar Rao (51), alias Kishenji, politburo member of the banned Communist Party of India (Maoist), told HT from his hideout. “We guarantee protection to any official who may need to visit these regions.” More than 220 districts — one-third of India’s total districts — are affected by Maoist violence, home ministry figures say. Three of Bengal’s 18 districts are Maoist strongholds. Government statistics say 300 security personnel were killed in Maoist violence this year. According to Rao, ensuring 100 days of employment annually for villagers is the right step towards improving their condition. “What’s the point in new schemes when funds for earlier schemes are lying unused?” he asked. “Proper implementation of NREGS projects will do a world of good to the rural poor.” In 2008-09, only 3.2 per cent rural households completed 100 days of employment in Maoist-hit districts, Rita Sharma, secretary in the rural development ministry, said on October 27.“It is imperative to intensify efforts to ensure rural households receive their due entitlement,” read Sharma’s letter addressed, among others, to the West Bengal chief secretary.“Bengal is one of the worst performers,” said Rao. “They have crores of rupees of NREGS funds lying idle.”
The Central governmen, however, feels that the NREGA must be given more importance and the implementation process should be intensified, espacially in the Left Wing Extreemism (Maoism) affected districts, in order to check speedy growth of the Maoists.
the NREGA, besides ensuring 100 days' rural jobs, also ensure that a job card holder in entitled to get the payments for 100 days even if the government fails to prodive him with jobs.
The Maoists are in full praise of the scheme and slams the cenrtral and state governments for not implementing the scheme properly as well as looting NREGA funds.
Here is one of my reportings published in Hindustan Times--
Guess who’s praising Govt’s rural job plan? The MaoistsSnigdhendu Bhattacharya, Hindustan TimesEmail AuthorKolkata, November 23, 2009First Published: 23:52 IST(23/11/2009)Last Updated: 02:23 IST(24/11/2009)The government’s pet project, the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS), has a new champion — the Maoists.“We urge the Centre to audit NREGS projects in the underdeveloped regions of (West) Bengal,” Koteshwar Rao (51), alias Kishenji, politburo member of the banned Communist Party of India (Maoist), told HT from his hideout. “We guarantee protection to any official who may need to visit these regions.” More than 220 districts — one-third of India’s total districts — are affected by Maoist violence, home ministry figures say. Three of Bengal’s 18 districts are Maoist strongholds. Government statistics say 300 security personnel were killed in Maoist violence this year. According to Rao, ensuring 100 days of employment annually for villagers is the right step towards improving their condition. “What’s the point in new schemes when funds for earlier schemes are lying unused?” he asked. “Proper implementation of NREGS projects will do a world of good to the rural poor.” In 2008-09, only 3.2 per cent rural households completed 100 days of employment in Maoist-hit districts, Rita Sharma, secretary in the rural development ministry, said on October 27.“It is imperative to intensify efforts to ensure rural households receive their due entitlement,” read Sharma’s letter addressed, among others, to the West Bengal chief secretary.“Bengal is one of the worst performers,” said Rao. “They have crores of rupees of NREGS funds lying idle.”
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