New Delhi, Mar 7: Rejecting Samajwadi Party Chief Mulayam Singh Yadav's demand that "corruption-hit" MNREGA be scrapped, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Wednesday said UPA's ambitious flagship social sector programme "provides a safety net to a very large number of rural families in times of distress."
"Mulayam Singh Yadav raised the issue of corruption in the implementation of MGNREGA scheme and suggested its discontinuation. I would like to mention that the scheme, which is implemented through state governments, provides a safety net to a very large number of rural families in times of distress," Singh said in the Lok Sabha.
Replying to the debate on the motion of thanks on the President's address in the lower House, Singh also said the government has taken several steps to ensure effective implementation of the programme.
"Our government has taken several measures to ensure transparency and accountability in the implementation of this scheme," the Prime Minister said.
In his debate on the motion of thanks to the President's Address in Lok Sabha last week, Yadav had attacked the rural job scheme, claiming it to be the "root cause" of corruption.
"MNREGA is the root of corruption in the country. The scheme is being misused. Scrap MNREGA. It has been a loot. It is of no use," Yadav had said, adding officials are "siphoning off" money meant for providing rural job.
Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh had criticised Mulayam for his demand, saying the SP leader's son and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav appears not to share his views.
