Ombudsman for NREGA
The Ministry of Rural Development has decided to constitute an Expert Group under the Chairmanship of Prof. Moolchand Sharma, Vice-Chairman University Grants Commission for examining institutional mechanisms for the establishment of Ombudsman under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA). The other members of the group include Shri Ram Lubhaya, Principal Secretary, Rural Development, Government of Rajasthan, Shri S.M. Vijayanad, Secretary, Rural Development, Government of Kerala, Shri K. Raju Principal Secretary Rural Development Government of Andhra Pradesh, Shri Ashk Ali Tak, Member CEGC and Dr. B.D. SHARMA Member CGEC. In addition , the Joint Secretary (NREGA) Ministry of Rural Development and representative from the ministry of Law and Justice, Ministry of Labour and Employment, Panchayati Raj and Chief Vigilance Commission will be the others members of the Expert Group.
The Expert Group will examine instructional mechanisms for grievance redressal under NREGA in the states. It will recommend an appropriate institutional mechanism for redressal of grievances under the NREG Act. It may also co-opt such members as it may consider necessary.
The Expert group will hold its meeting on regular intervals as per requirement. It will also interact with the state governments and other stakeholders to examine all the issues. The ministry of Rural Development will provided requisite support in this regard. The group will submitted its report with in 6th weeks of its constitution.
Since NREG Act is in operation in all rural areas of the country form the first of April this year, the Act provides for enhancement of livelihood security for the rural households. Labor intensive works are being funded under the Scheme formulated under the Act for generating employment of 121.64 crore persons day for 3.08 crore households with an investment of Rs. 13,101.50 crores. In the implementation of the progeamme, District P rogramme Coordinators and Programme Officers along with their support staff, Panchayat Raj Institutions, Gram Sabhas, Line Departments and NGOs are involved. Considering the huge scale of the programme and the large number of stake holders involved there is likelihood of malpractices being adopted and complaints and grievances arising due to those malpractices. In fact large number of complaints are being received in the ministry on which State Government are being asked to take remedial action. National level Monitors and Area Officers of the Ministry are also conducting special enquiries on those complaints. However the mechanisms for handling of grievances and complaints need to be further streamlined.
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