Addressing a press conference in here on Monday, Shettar said the MGREGS budget for the State for 2009-10 has been revised to Rs 2,846 crore from Rs 1,084 crore by the Centre considering the performance of the State.
However, the Centre has been releasing the grants in small amounts which is not adequate to effectively implement the scheme. For instance, the Centre had released only Rs 121.25 crore recently which met the requirement only for a week, Shettar pointed. The balance amount stood at Rs 1,200 crore and needed to be released immediately, he added.
The State government has already provided employment to 23.03 lakh families (as on date this fiscal) compared to 8.96 lakh families last year. Shettar said he would raise the matter with Union Rural Development Minister C P Joshi in New Delhi on Tuesday and also with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh when an all-party delegation from the State will call on him on Wednesday, Shettar added.
Ombudsmen
Replying to queries, Shettar said the government was planning to appoint ombudsmen at the district-level to monitor and ensure proper implementation of the scheme besides plugging misappropriation of funds.