The rural development ministry is considering ways to accommodate its most vocal critics in the Central Employment Guarantee Council, Aruna Roy and Jean Dreze, who are also members of the Sonia Gandhi-led National Advisory Council.
Sources said though the term of CEGC members is only for one year under Section 4(4) of the MGNREGA, both Ms Roy and Mr Dreze have been members for three consecutive terms and cannot therefore continue in that capacity in the new council.
Sources said to go about this rule, both Ms Roy and Mr Dreze may be made “special invitees” to the council, a move which will allow them to bring up vital issues. The term of the current CEGC expired in September 2010 but a fresh notification for the same got delayed.
Both Ms Roy and Mr Dreze have been raising concerns on the implementation of the flagship MGNREGA, including lack of transparency in social audit, delay in wage payment and payment of minimum wages to the workers during the past CEGC meetings.
Their persistent demands led to revision of MGNREGA wages in January 2011 by linking it with the consumer price index for agricultural labour. Based on their demand the government is contemplating a comprehensive social audit of the rural job plan, which has been plagued with reports of corruption at the ground level.
Officials said a fresh notification for the CEGC will be done by the end of February. The CEGC could not be reconstituted as former minister C.P. Joshi did not clear the file, which is now being considered by the incumbent Vilasrao Deshmukh.
Sources said accommodating the two will help the government counter allegations against it that the CEGC was packed with leaders belonging to the Congress.