"I am going to announce in Parliament on large scale expansion in the work schedule of MGNREGA by May 8. (Planning Commission member) Mihir Shah-headed expert committee recommendations are accepted (in this regard)," Ramesh said at a press conference here.
"One of the important additions is Souchalaya (toilet system), in which Rs 1,200 crore could be allotted, he said and added that 25/26 new activities would be added to the work schedule, particularly related to agriculture.
Sharing how a chief minister in North India told him that MGNREGA programmes have become 'purchase programmes' of SUVs, Ramesh admitted that there were scams in the flagship programme and efforts were afoot to prevent them.
The Comptroller and Auditor General of India would appoint chartered accountants at the gram panchayats to audit funds meant for rural development in order to prevent such leakages, he added. PTI PVR NN
