India admits to flaws in NREGA

The government on Friday admitted certain flaws in its flagship rural employment programme like irregularities in payment of wages and said steps were being taken to set them right.

The government is aware of the shortcomings in implementation of National Rural Employment Generation Act (NREGA) and steps are being taken to set it right, Rural Development Minister C P Joshi told the Lok Sabha during Question Hour.

To redress the complaints of irregularities in payment of wages, money is being disbursed through banks and post offices, he said.

To a question on employment under NREGA in West Bengal [ Images ], Joshi said the state government was able to give only 14 days of work under the scheme in 2006-07 as against the provision of 100 days.

In 2007-08, the government was able to give work for 25 days, while the following year saw the scheme being run for 26 days, he said.

Joshi said 4.49 crore (44.9 million) households were provided employment under NREGA during 2008-09.

Under the Swarnajayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana 18.62 lakh (1.862 million) people were assisted in 2008-09 against a target of 17.63 lakh (1.763 million), the minister said.