NREGA has shortcomings, but will expand: Govt

As the time for presentation of the Budget draws close, there are expectations of a boost to the rural sector. The National Rural Employment Scheme was seen as a crucial factor in the UPA's victory this election.

Union Rural Development and panchayati raj minister CP Joshi says the NREGA will remain the government's flagship programme and will be further extended. He spoke exclusively to CNN-IBN's Senior Editor Sagarika Ghose.

This is what he said:

CNN-IBN: Mr Joshi, the big flagship programme of your ministry is the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGA). We saw in the Congress manifesto that this scheme was going to be expanded. It was said that individuals would be able to take advantage of the jobs, not just family. Is your ministry going to expand the NREGA?

C P Joshi: Yes, we are goin to expand this programme. But how exactly we are going to expand it, I will let you know after due course of time. It is yet a small beginning. Wait for a couple of years and you will see it. The NREGA will be an instrument to make individuals self-sufficient and to give an opportunity to development in their Panchayat.

CNN-IBN: So can we say that NREGA will continue to be the flagship programme of the UPA government?

C P Joshi: Yes, it will continue to be continued programme of what we began in our first term. It will be a priority programme and we will continue it. We are committed to the NREGA.

CNN-IBN: Sir, there is a little bit of criticism of the NREGA. Number of people feel that it does not create any real, permanent assets in the village, its not genuinely creating any opportunity. It is said that it just creates earth works where people are earning for just playing with some soil. It is also pointed out that it is not a long term measure, it's a short term measure, that it is a government hand-out. How would you react to such criticisms?

C P Joshi: We do agree that what you are saying is correct. But there is a provision of 40 per cent material component. So number of good work has been done, so please do not say only earth work is done. And we are going to further improve the scheme.

CNN-IBN: So, is NREGA enough?

C P Joshi: No, it is not enough. We are thinking of a supplementary source of income. Basically, they have to indulge, they have to have self-sufficiency in every walk of life. If they want to work in a farm-house they will have to work in a farm-house. They have to develop their output in agriculture. If they are un-skilled persons, they will have to become skilled persons. Baiscally, we want them to be self-sufficient but to begin with, you have got to have some space.

CNN-IBN: What about BPOs in the rural sector, what abour creating rural infrastructure? Are not those not more important than being happy with just the NREGA and stay put at that?

C P Joshi: See, in the Prime Minister's as well as the President's address we have said it, that we are going to have National Livelihood Missions. All the activities you just mentioned will be covered under the National Livelihood Mission.

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