In a bid to monitor the performance of states in implementing the rural job scheme MGNREGA down to the gram panchayat level, the centre has set up a number of indicators against which their performance will be measured.
The states from now on will have to periodically report on these indicators which include the rate of work completion, percentage of wage paid within 15 days, percentage person days generated, and percentage of households completing 100 days of work, among others.
“These set of indicators will not only enable the state to analyse their relative performance and take corrective steps to improve the implementation, it will also help us keep a close tab on the states down to the panchayat level,” a rural development ministry official told HT.
The states will provide information on each indicator at the level of district and gram panchayat thus enabling the centre to compare the performance of states, districts and gram panchayat.
The move came after the performance review committee meeting the rural development ministry held with all states early this month.
The centre has also asked the states to use information and communication tools (ICT) like IVRS, call centres and the internet to capture the demand for work across the country.
{{/usCountry}}The centre has also asked the states to use information and communication tools (ICT) like IVRS, call centres and the internet to capture the demand for work across the country.
{{/usCountry}}The corrective measures being introduced by the Modi government for the successful implementation of MGNREGA is a precursor to a full-fledged restructuring the government intends to undertake.
Among the likely changes introduced by the new government are more funds for asset-creation, penalty for late disbursal of funds by the Centre and removing the five-kilometer restriction for seeking work.
Under MGNREGA, that came into force in 2006, a household is eligible for 100 days of employment in a year.