Amartya Sen lauds NREGA programme

NEW DELHI: UPA's flagship programme, NREGA, which provides jobs to the rural mass, was on Friday lauded by Nobel laureate Amartya Sen who described it as an "enhancer of capacity".

"NREGA reaches out to the people and gives them income. It is an enhancer of capability. It enhances their self-respect and participation in life and community," Sen said during a function to mark the golden jubilee of Bar Council of India.

He made the observations while answering a question posed by an undergraduate student.

Sen also termed a Delhi High Court judgement de-criminalising gay sex as visionary. The Nobel laureate said he supported de-criminalistion of gay sex and had also signed a letter to this effect recently.

During his talk, Sen said ethical justice should survive public scrutiny as people's opinion was very important. He said justice should go beyond boundaries as interest of others may be involved though they do not live in the area concerned.

On human rights, Sen said social monitoring was as important as legislations. He quoted several scholars during his speech.

Vice-President Hamid Ansari, who was the chief guest, said non-enforcement of rights puts citizens at receiving end.