Sir,
This refers to article ‘Private works under NREGA’ by Prof Bharat Jhunjhunwala. A study undertaken by George Washington University USA has found that the net impact of MG-NREGA on the poverty rate was only one percent against the expected 12 percent.
The author has discussed about another important problem vis a vis NREGA i.e. corruption. To combat corruption in NREGA works there is a provision of appointing Ombudsman in states at district level. The job of the Ombudsman is to look into grievances of NREGA workers and general public. Recently after so many years of J&K Government appointed around one dozen Ombudsman in J&K, but unfortunately their mode of appointment is being questioned. The demands from civil society to make their CVs public is a legitimate demand. People are not aware who they are ? what they have done in past ? are they political workers or not ? Central Government has made some changes in the design of NREGA which is appreciated. Now the Government has allowed a number of private works to be undertaken under NREGA which will not only be an asset for the person but for the village as well. Only thing needed is now accountability in NREGA works and that cannot be checked by old and backdoor appointee NREGA Ombudsmen. Hope Govt looks into this issue.
Yours etc….
A Bhat
Srinagar
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