Two back-to-back reports that shed light on the status of MGNREGA implementation in the country, have been released recently from the Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD). A review of MGNREGA implementation in 8 different states of India by a team of experts during the month of May this year reveals that in many of the drought affected districts, the Gram Panchayats have no work to offer under the programme. (Please click...
More »SEARCH RESULT
NREGS scores a point in 1st report card with highest spend of Rs 56,000 crore in FY16 -Ruchika Chitravanshi
-The Economic Times NEW DELHI: For the first time ever, the Narendra Modi government is bringing out a performance review of the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS), highlighting the highest ever expenditure of Rs 56,000 crore undertaken in 2015-16 which includes Rs 12,000 crore paid in pending wages this year. The scheme generated 235 crore person days of wage employment, highest in last 5 years. However, it continued to lag in...
More »Study sounds pollution death alert
-The Telegraph New Delhi: India's annual toll of premature deaths from air pollution is likely to rise to 1.7 million over the next two decades despite planned initiatives to lower power sector and transport emissions, says a study that highlights the need for more action. Released today by the Paris-based International Energy Agency (IEA), the study cautions that rising incomes, urbanisation and industrialisation are raising energy consumption in India and worsening air...
More »How to combat food price rise before its too late -Lekha Chakraborty and Pinaki Chakraborty
-The Financial Express Persistence of high food inflation can harden the monetary policy stance and make fiscal choices difficult Food inflation increased to 7.9% in May 2016 as against 4.23% in April. This sudden spurt in food inflation is attributed to vegetable prices, followed by pulses and sugar. Is this a short-term spike or will it be a persistent one? If it is going to be a persistent one with pass-through effects,...
More »Review points to procedural lapses in MGNREGS -Sayantan Bera and Elizabeth Roche
-Livemint.com Delays in payment and indifferent implementation, among other reasons, have blunted the programme’s effectiveness Procedural lapses have marred the implementation of the state-funded job guarantee programme aimed at alleviating rural distress in India, according to a review of the scheme in eight states by the rural development ministry. While delays in disbursal of funds for the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) have held up wage payments in Madhya...
More »