Tamenglong, January 02 2010: The state government is going to appoint Ombudsman for redressal of grievances and disposal of complaints while implementing National Rural Employment Guarantee Schemes, NREGS.

The selection or interview for Ombudsman has been conducted since two months back.

Though total exact of Ombudsman selection was not known till today, the state government may not appoint more than three persons as Ombudsman in a district, the reliable source said.

The setting up of Ombudsman and its office came from the Central Government to the State government in exercise of the powers conferred under Section 27 of National Rural Employment Guarantee Act.

The instructions for NREGS Ombudsman also formulated under Section 27 of NREG Act with the objective of establishing a system for redressal of grievances and disposal of complaints while implementing NREGS, the source said.

The factors that central government want to set up of Ombudsman may be due to rising up numbers of grievances while implementing NREGA.

Another factor may be non transparency and accountability that cardinal principles underlying the implementation of the Act, the source added.

Further, the source reveals that effective grievances redressal is the key of empowerment of the people and the enjoyment of their rights.

On seeing the existing administrative machinery for the disposal of grievances needs to be strengthening to secure the ends of justice, so the centre felt it necessary to set up Ombudsman, the source added.

The Ombudsman is an independent of the jurisdiction of the Central or the state government.

The state government will specify the territorial jurisdiction of each Ombudsman in terms of a district, the source said.

The Ombudsman have the power to received the complaints and facilitate from NREGA workers and disposal in accordance with law, the source added.

Any person who has grievance against the implementing agency may write to the Ombudsman or NREGA authority superior to the authority complained against, the source said.

He went on to reveal that the on receipt of the complaint, Ombudsman may refer the complaint to the appropriate NREGA Authorities for disposal within seven days.

In the event of failure of the NREGA Authority to dispose the complaint, the matter may be taken up by the Ombudsman for disposal, the source added.

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