The deficiencies in the implementation of Mahatma Gandhi NREGA in the four years of its implementation are mainly procedural in nature, the minister of state for rural development Pradeep Jain Aditya informed the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday.

It identified such deficiencies as delay in issuance of job cards; non-issuance of dated receipts for application for employment, delay in wage payment; poor record keeping; in sufficient works for meeting labour demand; and inadequate staff with the implementing authorities.

To address these deficiencies, the Ministry has taken the following steps:

· Permissible administrative expenditure limit has been enhanced from 4% to 6% for deployment of dedicated staff for NREGA, strengthening of management and administrative support structures for social audit, grievance redressal and ICT infrastructure

· Payment through institutional accounts of NREGA workers to infuse transparency in wage disbursement.

· Instructions have been issued on 7.9.09 directing all States to appoint ombudsman at district level for grievance redressal

· Social audit: Modifications have been made in the Act on 31.12.08 for laying down the procedures for social audit

· Independent appraisal by professional institutions including IITs and IIMs and Agricultural Universities

· Independent Monitoring by NLM.

· Visit by Central Council members.

· ICT based MIS to make data available to public scrutiny, inclusive of  Job cards, Employment demanded and allocated, Days worked, Muster rolls, shelf of works,  Funds available/spent and fund to various implementing agencies, Social Audit findings,  registering  grievances and generating  alerts for corrective action.

· Periodic reviews with State Governments.

· National Helpline now being upgraded to ICT based network of national helpline. Toll free Helpline No.  is 1800110707.

· To cover gaps in financial services and outreach and also to ensure greater transparency in wage  disbursement, Rural ATM, hand held devices, smart cards, biometrics have been initiated.

· District Excellence Award for districts with outstanding performance under NREGA.