The government has decided to involve the civil society in the implementation of the national rural employment guarantee scheme (NREGS).

The rural development ministry, which is overseeing the scheme, has put up on www.nrega.nic.in an application form to invite eminent citizens to become part of an independent monitoring group.

“A total of 100 eminent citizens will be selected by a screening committee that has already been formed,” an offical told Governance Now.

The application form, along with the name of the members of the screening committee, has been put up on the website.

“Their (members of the proposed group) visits to the states and districts can provide a mechanism for an independent third party assessment of the situation and an important source of feedback for the government,” reads the notification.

Those who can apply include, among others, retired judges, ambassadors, chief secretaries of states and secretaries of the central government, vice chancellors, members of defence forces above the rank of brigadier; social activists, academicians and scientists, editors and journalists with press information bureau accreditation.

Any eligible person can nominate himself and apply for the position. Once the ministry receives the applications, it will put up the names of the applicants on the website and  invite comments from the public. After considering the feedback, the screening committee will finalise the names.
The members of the group will be required to visit the earmarked districts once a year and spend six days there interviewing various officials, workers and other stakeholders to assess implementation of the scheme.

The ministry has allocated Rs 55,000 per person per visit.