In a bid to hit back at the chief ministers who have complained of inadequate funding for rural development projects, especially the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA), Union Rural Development Minister Raghuvansh Prasad Singh released a report detailing funding for the last eight years. "I challenge any chief minister to stand up now and say that he didn't get money from the UPA (United Progressive Alliance)," he thundered.

Key points from the PM's detailed document listing the administrative and legislative measures taken to implement the NCMP. ...... | e-mail | one page format | feedback: send - read | Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's assessment of his government's implementation of the National Common Minimum Programme (NCMP) is not a mere propaganda pamphlet. It is a detailed document listing the administrative and legislative measures taken to implement the NCMP. Here are some key points: Employment * National Employment Guarantee Act has been passed and is being implemented.

UP, Maharashtra, Gujarat And Bihar In Line Of Fire NREGA laggards could face an intrusive Centre as it emerges that a handful of states are pulling down the national average. Rural development ministry is contemplating "monthly monitoring' for Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat and Bihar, after a performance review found that these states were falling short of their potential for job guarantee scheme. It would be an embarrassment for the four states as the RD ministry holds a quarterly NREGA monitoring for all. The officer-incharge from state comes for discussions with his

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The Congress has accused the Bharatiya Janata Party-ruled States of not properly implementing the Centrally-sponsored welfare schemes in their respective areas. Even the flagship programmes of the United Progressive Alliance government such as the Horticulture Mission, the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan and the National Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGA) were ridden with corruption and mismanagement in BJP-ruled States, the party said.

Mr Goutam Chakraborty, who was elected as the sabhadhipati of Malda Zilla Parishad with the support of the Trinamul Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), finally completed his five-year tenure despite protests by a majority of the Opposition. He had to face problems to run the board, failing to prove majority for passing its annual budgets, on more than one occasion. There was also a misunderstanding among the associate members of the Zilla Parishad belonging to the Congress, Trinamul and the BJP.

NORTH LAKHIMPUR, April 29

Over the two years since it became operational, the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) of 2005 has had a positive impact on the lives of millions of people across the poorest districts in the country. The Act, which guarantees 100 days of employment per household at minimum wage, is the first piece of legislation that compels the state to provide a social safety net for impoverished rural households. Till March 31, 2008, the Scheme had covered 330 districts across different States. From April 1, 2008, it has covered the entire country.