INTUC plans to spread influence in MNREGA in big way

NEW DELHI: After its successful foray in MNREGA by enrolling four lakh workers, INTUC in Kerala has ambitious plans to spread its influence in its implementation in a move to make the UPA's ambitious programme more participatory and transparent.

In letters to Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi and Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh, Kerala INTUC chief R Chandrasekharan said the network of trade union, which is very active at unit level, "can act as a participatory nodal agency" with Gram Panchayats, which has a key role in implementation of MNREGA.

Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC) is the trade union wing of the Congress party.

Chandrasekharan, who is also the all India vice president of INTUC, said that improper implementation of social security scheme meant for the poor is the "root cause" of the problems like Maoism and communalism in the country.

The MNREGA aims at enhancing the livelihood security of people in rural areas by guaranteeing hundred days of wage- employment in a financial year to a rural household whose adult members volunteer to do unskilled manual work.

The INTUC leader said that if the trade unions are engaged, it would be "certainly accountable" and work distribution and its implementation will be improved.

It would also help poor people "stay with the mainstream", he said.

Chandrasekharan was instrumental in forming union for MNREGA workers--Grameena Tozhilurappu Tozhilali Congress (Rural Employment Guarantee Workers' Congress) in all 14 districts of Kerala.