The Planning Commission in its 12th Plan (2012-17) document has suggested implementation of the UPA’s flagship rural employment programme scheme, MGNREGA, in mission mode.
According to the document, a copy of which is with this newspaper, the programme should be implemented by an autonomous society called the MGNREGA Mission, which should have a national management team with leading experts from the fields relevant to the scheme implementation.
The document, however, maintained that the ministry of rural development should have a dominant presence in the governing body of the Mission. It should also include members from the Central Employment Guarantee Council (CEGC) and state representatives on a rotational basis. The Mission at the state level should be fully accountable to the state department responsible for executing the MGNREGS.
The document said, “There is a need to establish the technical secretariat of the CEGC as provided for in the NREGA (Central Council) Rules, 2006. This secretariat will enable the CEGC to fulfil its mandate under the Act.”
It is suggested that a nationwide network of capacity building institutions will be set up to deliver, in a cascading mode, with national, state, and district level units.
Even at the block level there will be a full-time dedicated programme officer (PO) with fully devolved authority for performing the role assigned in the MGNREG Act. An additional PO could be on a contract basis with the state mission. The PO will have a team of four to five junior engineers or equivalent to assist in her tasks. The PO will also have a team of two to four members for administrative/support functions.
It has also been suggested to ensure that every gram panchayat (GP) has at least one employment guarantee officer (EGA). For GPs with BPL/SC/ST population in excess of 3,000, there is need to appoint an additional EGA.