Government today renamed its flagship rural job guarantee programme - National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) - after Mahatma Gandhi.
"The Union cabinet has decided to rechristen NREGA as Mahatma Gandhi Rural Employment Guarantee Act," Prime Minister Manmohan Singh told a gathering of heads of villages to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the launching of Panchayati Raj.
Singh said the scheme has been aptly named after the Father of the Nation as he had always held the concept of Gram Swaraj in high esteem.
The government's decision comes amid reports that several opposition ruled states have been taking credit for the Central scheme.
"Several states have still not provided adequate funds, functions and functionaries to Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs). This system needs to be changed," Singh said in the presence of UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi.
She said, "if Dalits, tribals, poor and more than 12 lakh women (elected representatives in Panchayats) have today got the opportunity to raise their voice, it is all because of Rajiv Gandhi's family."
The Union cabinet has recently cleared a proposal to amend the Constitution to provide 50 per cent reservation to women in Panchayats.
Gandhi hoped that the bill in this regard would be passed in Parliament soon.
Emphasising the importance of PRIs in the socio-economic system, Gandhi said weaker sections should effectively raise their voice and they should be heard. "There should not be any stumbling block in this."
It was the responsibility of the state governments to take steps towards strengthening Panchayats, she said adding that the Centre has taken several measures to empower weaker sections.
"We have achieved a lot, and still a lot has to be done," Gandhi said.
The UPA chairperson said Rajiv Gandhi had seen the plight of the poor from close quarters and was pained. He resolved to bring about a change in their conditions and struggled for it.
Noting that involvement of common man was essential to make government schemes transparent and effective, Singh said, "this participation can be ensured by PRIs."
The Prime Minister said it was important to decentralise the governance in a vast nation like India, and this can be done by Panchayati Raj institutions.
Singh said by giving adequate training to representatives of PRIs, these can play a more responsible role as significant units of a decentralised administration.
The Prime Minister said implementation of NREGA through PRIs has produced good results and though there may be some initial problems, giving PRIs new responsibilities will augur well for the future.
He cautioned against setting up of those institutions which may affect the process of decentralisation of governance and efforts to make PRIs more effective.
"Sometimes we set up new institutions in the name of speedy implementation of schemes and ensuring accountability. This can benefit a particular scheme but it can damage the process of decentralisation of governance and also our attempts at making PRIs more effective. We should refrain from doing such exercise," Prime Minister said.
Singh expressed happiness over the fact that 2009-10 was being observed as 'Gram Sabha Year', saying Gram Sabha is such a platform where common people have direct share.
Panchayati Raj Minister C P Joshi said panchayat representatives should organise discussions in their respective panchayats on development issues.
