Hyderabad, April 12: Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy said that absolute transparency in sanctioning of works and payment of wages should be ensured under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS).
The Chief Minister yesterday held a detailed review meeting on NREGS, SHG, SERP and Social Security Pensions with Ministers and officials of the Rural Development department at Secretariat, a release from CMO office here said.
Mr Reddy also asked the officials to prepare a Master Plan for creating connectivity and accessibility to all SC/ST colonies in the State with Mandal as a unit to be taken up in a phased manner under the NREGS.
He also suggested a comprehensive planning and prioritisation of works of watersheds being taken up under DPAP, DDP, IWDP and IWMP.
The Chief Minister said that Rs 25 lakh would be given for construction of Mahila Samakhya Buildings in every Mandal headquarters and this would be taken up in a phased manner under NREGS.
Mr Reddy also made it clear that SERP will be continued though the World Bank aid expires in September, 2011.
The Chief Minister also wanted stringent punishment to be meted out to officials involved in corruption and misuse of funds under the NREGS.
The Rural Development officials in consultation with the law department should launch a new scheme under which severe punishment be given to officials involved in misuse of funds and cheating of people.
Under the NREGS, Rs 7810 crore have been utilised in the State during 2010-11 and Rs 8250 crore will be utilised during 2011-12.
Officials said Andhra Pradesh has the biggest SHG bank linkage in the country. The SHG bank linkage has crossed Rs 7,000 crore during 2010-11 and Rs 9,000 crore is targeted during 2011-12.
–Agencies