PM for effective oversight mechanism for anti-poverty schemes

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said an effective oversight mechanism is "extremely important" on various poverty alleviation programmes as the government has made a whopping allocation of Rs 68,000 crore on them.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Wednesday said an effective oversight mechanism is "extremely important" on various poverty alleviation programmes as the government has made a whopping allocation of Rs 68,000 crore on them.

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"Allocations for poverty alleviation programmes are rising every year. We have now to ensure that our people get the best value for every rupee spent on their behalf," he said addressing the conference of state ministers of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj in New Delhi. He said a sum of Rs 39,000 crore has been allocated for NREG scheme and Rs 2,350 crore for the Swarnjayanti Gram Swarojgar Yojna (SGSY).

Similarly, under Rajiv Gandhi National Rural Drinking Water Mission and the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojna, provisions have been made for Rs 8,000 crore and Rs 18,500 crore respectively in the current year, he said adding," effective oversight of these programmes is therefore extremely important."

Noting that the performance of the NREGA programme was "uneven across states", the Prime Minister said some states have shown good results and some others are lagging behind. "I urge them to catch up."

"We still have miles to go before we achieve the full potential of this unique legislation," he said and referred to the setting up of a 'Delivery Monitoring Unit' at the Prime Minister's Office to monitor the flagship projects such as NREGA programme.