PM to states: Improve performance in NREGA implementation

With some states lagging behind in the implementation of rural job scheme NREGA, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today asked them to improve their performance in the flagship programme of the government.

With some states lagging behind in the implementation of rural job scheme NREGA, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Wednesday asked them to improve their performance in the flagship programme of the government.

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"We still have miles to go before we achieve the full potential of this unique legislation. The performance of the programme has been uneven across states. Some states have shown good results, some are lagging behind. I urge them to catch up," he said.

Singh was inaugurating a daylong conference of state ministers of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj in New Delhi.

He said though major success has been achieved under NREGA, it should not be a cause for complacency.

The Prime Minister said a delivery-monitoring unit has been set up in the PMO to review flagship projects, such as NREGA, jointly with the concerned ministries. Under the monitoring process, as much data as possible will be put on websites of concerned ministries.

"Workers on the ground can make independent assessments of the scheme and challenge government data. We need to shift from input-based monitoring, which can often be self-congratulatory, to independent evaluation of outcomes," he said.

Singh also said the government proposes to set up an ombudsman in each district for effective grievance redressal under NREGA.