The Hindu : Kerala News : Social audit on NREGS in Wayanad

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Thursday, Nov 22, 2007
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Kerala

Social audit on NREGS in Wayanad

R. Madhavan Nair

Scheme launched on September 21 last year
1.11 lakh work days created

Kozhikode: A special grama sabha meeting to be held on Friday in Vallamunda grama panchayat is of special significance to members of the panchayat, for it would discuss a report on social audit on the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS) conducted in Narokkadavu, which is ward -19 of this panchayat in Wayanad district.

Panchayat members are excited because theirs is the first panchayat in the State where a social audit on the NREGP is to be held. A.N. Prabhakaran, president, Vallamunda grama panchayat, is all the more excited because he represents Narokkadavu in the panchayat.

Wayanad is one of the two districts in the whole State, the other is Palakkad, where this programme of Central government is being implemented. Introduced by a parliamentary legislation enacted in 2005, the NREGS aims at generating employment in villages. At least 100 work days are to be generated annually. The beneficiaries would be paid minimum wages. Both men and women would be paid the same wages.

The scheme was launched in Wayanad in Kaniyampatta grama panchayat by Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan. On September 21 last year, K. Ammu, president, Mananthavadi block panchayat, inaugurated the scheme in Vallamunda grama panchayat launching land development scheme at Athikkolli tribal colony.

So far, under the NREGS, 1.11 lakh work days have been created in Vallamunda panchayat spending Rs.1. 40 crore, Mr. Prabhakaran says.

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