Inspite of the fact that NREGS is UPA's flag-ship programme which paid it rich political dividend, the Rural Development Minister C P Joshi can't help tinkering it. He has allowed construction of the Bharat Nirman Rajiv Gandhi Sewa Kendra in the list of works that can be taken up under the scheme. This, Jean Dreze and Aruna Roy--both of whom played a key role in devising the scheme and are members of the central council set up to monitor it--think is a dangerous step. Not only would this material-intensive work go against the nature of labour-intensive one being carried out under the NREGS, they think this would also provide an entry point to exploitative and corrupt contractors. Shouldn't the minister think up some other scheme under which to carryout such construction activities, especially in view of the important role the scheme has played in providing job to the needy in rural areas? Shouldn't the contractors be kept entirely out of this one welfare scheme?