Panchayats should keep watch on MNREGA funds: Jairam Ramesh

KOLKATA: Union Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh today stressed that the panchayati raj system should be used to keep a watch on the working of MNREGA.

"Panchayats should keep a tab on the working of MNREGA. Roads being built one season is being swept way in the next monsoon due to corruption," Ramesh said at a Panchayati Raj Convention organised by the West Bengal Pradesh Congress Committee here.

"I have seen in West Midnapore that black top of roads missing within three years of constructing the metalled roads under the scheme, this should not happen and has to be kept a tab upon by the panchayat system," he said.

The Rural Development Minister visited Lalgarh, Binpur, Salboni and Sadar blocks of Maoist-affected West Midnapore district yesterday.

60 districts in the country were declared as Maoist-affected and West Midnapore was one, Ramesh said, adding, the proposal of soon including the districts of Purulia and Bankura in West Bengal was being considered.

Ramesh also assured additional funds to the state for rural development.

"I have told the West Bengal Chief Minister that there will be no dearth of funds for rural development," Ramesh said.