>
Title: Need to monitor the progress of the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme in Aurangabad Parliamentary Constituency, Bihar.
SHRI NIKHIL KUMAR (AURANGABAD, BIHAR): There has been slow progress in the implementation of the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme in my Aurangabad constituency in Bihar despite my pursuing it most diligently with the district administration. Very few Job cards have been issued under this scheme and, where issued, the required number of jobs has not been awarded and, above all, hardly any allowance has been paid. Of a sum of Rs. 38 crores allocated for my district, only Rs.6 crores or so have so far been utilized. Since we claim that it is central scheme conceived of at a staggering cost of over Rs. 15000 crores for the benefit of the rural unemployed, public perceives its non-implementation has an adverse reflection on the Central Government though we do clarify that it is the state Government that has to implement it. Guidelines issued by the State Government, which come in conflict with Central instructions, created much confusion and led to delaying the scheme. Also, Panchayat Sewaks are hesitant in maintaining rosters which leads to non-payment of the allowances. All this calls for close monitoring by the Rural Development Ministry which could consider organizing training workshops for the district officers to clear the concept and ensure the smooth implementation of the scheme. In fact, there is an overall need for close monitoring by Central agencies – IRCON, Power Grid and other-handling works relating to infrastructure development. As for NREG scheme, the Ministry of Rural Development must devise a system to monitor progress in its implementation in a more effective manner.