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NREGA Renamed after Mahatma Gandhi

The Central Government on Friday named the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) after to father of the nation Mahatma Gandhi. The Act will now be referred to as the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act.

The decision was announced at the National Convention to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Panchayati Raj in Indian villages by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

Singh said renaming the NREGA was a befitting tribute to the Mahatma, who strongly advocated the decentralisation of governance, to make it more effective and transparent.

Singh said that Panchayati Raj is an important mechanism for implementing government welfare scheme as it ensures participation of common man in their execution. Dr. Singh said that NREGA has yielded desired results despite initial problems.

He, however, regretted that some states are not properly implementing Panchayati Raj and these institutions are not given funds and are running short of man-power.

He also announced a decision to commemorate the golden jubilee of Panchayati Raj in the country by observing 2009-10 as the ‘Year of Gram Sabha’.

Addressing the convention, UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi said Panchayati Raj is an effective tool for Social and Economic transformation of India.

Recalling, her late husband, Rajiv Gandhi’s contribution to the cause, she said it was his belief to strengthen democratic process from the grass root level and the amendments in the constitution in 1993 were steps in this direction.

She called for greater transparency in the implementation of NREGA.

Panchayati Raj Minister CP Joshi and representative from the states and Panchayat members are participating in the day-long convention in the national capital.

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