Jalandhar, February 2 (Doaba News Service)- Ignoring the guidelines of the Union Ministry of Rural Development, the Punjab Government has failed to appoint ombudsman under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) even after five months. The Union Government had asked the Punjab Government to appoint ombudsman for the redressal of grievances of the job card holders, engaged in different projects under the NREGA, in the state. In an order dated September 7, 2009, Amita Sharma, Joint Secretary (NREGA), had directed different states and Union Territories to appoint ombudsmen so that the grievances be redressed in a time-bound manner. The Union Government has also directed the states to set up offices of the ombudsmen within three months from the date of issuance of the order. The government has also said that expenditure incurred for this purpose would be met out of the provision for the administrative expenditure under the scheme. The union government had decided to appoint the ombudsmen after massive grievances arose with regard to the implementation of the scheme across the country. Talking to The Tribune, DR Karnus Raju, NREGA Commissioner, Punjab, claimed that ...
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