Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, October 27 2009:
The days when job card holders grumbled against the authorities for not being transparent in implementing the work programmes will be history soon.
Job card holders of the state are happy lots as Ombudsman for NREGA will be posted in every district of the state.
Job card holders look into more transparent implementation of the Act in all districts of the state.
Interacting with this reporter, a job card holder said the appointment of ombudsman will ensure transparency in the implementation and execution of works under NREGS.
He expressed hope that the appointment of ombudsman will relieve the worry of the job card holders.
According to source, an ombudsman and two deputy ombudsmen will be appointed in each district for the Central's flagship programme of NREGA.
It may be mentioned that the Central government had issued the order on September 7 last to set up office of ombudsman in order to bring more transparency in the implementation of its flagship National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS) which is being implemented across the states of the country under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act.
The Instructions for NREGS Ombudsman was formulated under Section 27 of NREG Act with the objective of establishing a system for redressal of grievances and disposal of complaints relating to implementation of the NREG Act and the Schemes made under the Act by the States.
The establishment of the Ombudsman under the Act should be done on the recommendations of the Selection Committee which the state government to constitute with state Chief Secretary as chairperson.
A representative of Union Ministry of Rural Development and an eminent civil society person nominated by Union Ministry of Rural Development will be the member of the committee which the secretary of the state nodal department implementing the scheme will be the convener.
The provision of appointment of Ombudsman is aimed at making the flagship programme more transparent.
It is also aimed to redress the grievances of the job card holders.