Central government has been running an ambitious scheme to provide employment guarantee to rural people which is making a strong impact on the economic and social scene in the villages it is implemented. The scheme, named Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) is run in cooperation with the state governments and involving local bodies, particularly the panchayats. However, complaints of the scheme being misused  and misappropriation of funds by people having vested interests are not uncommon which has prompted the union government to appoint a few prestigious people to monitor the implementation and progress of MGNREGS.

The central government has reposed faith in Sh. Gautam R Morarka for monitoring of the scheme in one of the districts of Rajasthan. A devout believer and supporter of the cause of rural development, Sh. Morarka attaches great importance to the monitoring work and has come up with his suggestions at different levels including the media. He is authorized to undertake tours of the area concerned, hold discussions with the concerned authorities and to keep a check on the quality of the development work carried out under the scheme.

It may be recalled that the MGNREG Act 2005 provides enhancement of livelihood security, giving at least 100 days of guaranteed wage employment in every financial year to every household, whose adult members volunteer to do unskilled manual work. 

Panchayats at districts, intermediate and village levels are the principal authorities for planning and implementation of the scheme.

Flooded with complaints about corruption in NREGS works, the Centre had decided to appoint 100 prominent people from across the country to carry out independent evaluations and monitoring of the scheme. The idea is to openly discuss its performance and share details with gram panchayats and villagers so that the scheme can be implemented well and transparency brought in.