“There are several structural issues in NREGA. The scheme will be restructured in the next one month,” rural development minister Jairam Ramesh said on a day the Sonia Gandhi-headed National Advisory Council reviewed problems in the UPA’s showpiece welfare programme.
Ramesh said the NAC’s suggestions would be key inputs in the restructuring of the scheme.
“We are waiting for the recommendations of the NAC. The restructuring will be carried out keeping in view the NAC’s suggestions. If need be, the (NREGA) act will be amended,” the minister added.
The scheme aims to provide one person in each rural household at least 100 days of guaranteed employment in each financial year.
But recent data collated by Ramesh’s ministry suggest a dip in beneficiaries. According to the figures, one person in each household got work 47 days in 2010-11, down from 54 in 2009-10.
The total man days — the amount of work done by a labourer in a day — came down to 253 crore from 283 crore.