By IANS
Lucknow : Close on the heels of Congress MP Rahul Gandhi’s criticism of the execution of centrally funded rural development schemes in Uttar Pradesh, a central minister has told state government officials to personally monitor the schemes to ensure their proper implementation.
Union Minister for Rural Development Raghuvansh Prasad Singh said: “State officials must undertake extensive tour of the state to personally monitor the progress of NREGS (National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme) that could go a long way in removing poverty in the country.”
He was reviewing implementation of the scheme in the state here Wednesday.
While undertaking a tour of the drought-hit and poverty-ridden Bundelkhand region of the state last week, Rahul Gandhi had alleged that 95 percent of the funds allocated by the central government towards poverty alleviation in the state were pilfered.
Stressing on the need to curb pilferage, the minister insisted on ensuring wage disbursement to the beneficiaries only through banks or post-offices. “It should also be incumbent upon state officials to see that banks adopted a humanitarian approach in dealing with the poor and needy.
“If the employment guarantee scheme can be implemented in true letter and spirit, it would not only transform the employment scenario but also bring an end to the perennial problem of drought in several parts of the state,” he pointed out.
Assuring the minister of proper implementation of the scheme, state Chief Secretary P.K. Misra said in an official statement issued Wednesday night: “Officials failing to ensure implementation of the poverty alleviation schemes like NREGS would be taken to task.”