Parliamentary panel suggests linking Swachchata Abhiyan to MGNREGA

NEW DELHI: A key Parliamentary panel today suggested linking Centre's ambitious Swachchata Abhiyan programme to flagship rural job scheme MGNREGA.
The Public Accounts Committee headed by KV Thomas made the suggestion at a meeting of the panel to examine the loopholes in the scheme, which were pointed out in a performance report by the CAG.
A number of government schemes have already been linked to MGNREGA and it is believed that linking MGNREGA with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's ambitious sanitation scheme will give the sanitation campaign a push and will also address its fund-related problems.
Officials of Ministry of Rural Development appeared before the panel and explained to it the various measures being taken to plug the loopholes in MGNREGA.
The panel also advocated the evaluation of works done by MGNRGA through an independent agency and voiced concern over incidents of "financial impropriety" in the flagship rural job scheme.
In his introductory remarks, PAC chairman Thomas said that the rural development ministry need to introspect and find ways to ensure proper implementation of the scheme.
Sources said that the suggestions made at the committee meeting today included making the use of Aadhar number mandatory for work allocation, ensure regular social audit and payment of wages directly into account of MGNREGA workers.
The next meeting of the panel will be held on October 7.
Regarding the panel's suggestion for evaluation of the scheme's works through an independent agency, the officials told the panel that Indira Gandhi Institute of Bombay is carrying it out, the sources said.