The world's biggest public-works project just got bigger. In some places it is working better than many feared; but by no means everywhere

James Astill

The Jorhat district administration today called a meeting to prepare the roadmap for the implementation of National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme here. The scheme, which came into effect from April 1, entails the provision of employment for at least 100 days to every needy rural household in a fiscal year. In the current phase, NREGA will be executed in 14 districts of Asom.

Bodo Territorial Council (BTC) executive member Mano Kumar Brahmo today visited the countrys's biggest National Rural Employment Gurantee (NREGA) project at river Swrmanga in Kokrajhar district. The construction of the left and right embankment of river Swrmanga at a cost of Rs 46.22 crore is well in progress.

On rural development, MPs' hearts may be full but during debate, Lok Sabha is empty SEEMA CHISHTI NEW DELHI, APRIL 23: The Government plugs Bharat Nirman as the Nayi Azadi in TV spots during IPL matches, rides on the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act as its shining showpiece. All political parties, Left and Right, swear by the aam aadmi and the crying need for rural development.

BISWANATH CHARIALI

Highlighting the plight of the poor in rural areas, particularly women, Brinda Karat of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) on Monday asked the government to allocate more funds for rural development schemes. She also favoured lowering of productivity norms for minimum wages under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Programme (NREGP) so that more villagers could benefit.

Days after the young scion of the Gandhi family, Rahul Gandhi, alleged that the national rural employment guarantee scheme (NREGS) was not being implemented in drought-hit areas of Uttar Pradesh, the union rural development minister Raghuvansh Prasad Singh, admitted that the scheme faced corruption and had its shortcomings in implementation.

The National Rural Employment Guarantee Programme (NREGP) failed to stop the migration of farm labourers in search of livelihood in East Godavari district. A large number of labourers, especially from Narendrapuram of Rajanagaram mandal, are leaving their village in search of work to Nidadavole, Tadepalligudem and other areas in West Godavari district. More than 100 families, along with their children, are travelling on bullock carts with their belongings like cots, utensils, and clothes to other places to eke out their livelihood.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh wants every UPA flagship programme independently audited by an external agency so that the progress report can be put under public scrutiny.

In a career of 18 years as a migrant labour, Kalicharan Barar has seen many bad days. Once a contractor who owed him Rs 2,000 simply vanished. On another occasion, his wife suddenly fell ill and he had to spend Rs 70,000 for treatment. But nothing really comes close to the moment, when a heap of cement, sand, bricks and iron rods fell over and around him on Tuesday.