WB poor in NREGA, but situation cannot be changed overnight
PTI | 11:01 PM,Jan 25,2012Kolkata, Jan 25 (PTI) West Bengal's performance in NREGA was below other states, Union Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh said today observed but agreed with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee that 34 years of 'non-performance' by the erstwhile Left Front government could not be changed overnight. "It is a fact that the NREGA programme in West Bengal was below other states like Rajasthan and Andhra Pradesh which are very performing states. I have spoken to Chief Minister. She told me I must have patience because 34 years of non- performance (by the earlier Left Front regime) cannot be changed overnight," he told a press conference here. Ramesh, who returned here today after a three-day visit to South 24-Parganas, Bankura and Purulia districts to review developmental projects, said, "even in the PMGSY, I think there is enough room for substantial acceleration. The Chief Minister has assured me that with a new minister and secretary, a new focus is coming in rural development under the gram panchayats. I hope in the next few months, we will begin to get the results." Stating that money would not be a constraint in implementing the developmental schemes like the PMGSY and water supply projects, he said what mattered was the implementing capacity of the state government and the local governments. He attributed the non-success of the NREGA in West Bengal to extreme politicisation in the state and said, "I have seen that the PMGSY is not being implemented in some areas as villages to be connected by road were not CPI(M) villages. The panchayats must be empowered to make NREGA effective."
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