Aruna Roy opts out of NAC

Flays govt over MGNREGA wages The latest flashpoint is that the government is not taking up recommendations of the NAC on minimum wages to workers under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA). A Venkat Parsa New Delhi: Social activist Aruna Roy has decided to opt out of UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi-led National Advisory Council (NAC). Her current term as Member of the NAC expires on Friday. Aruna Roy is peeved that the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) is rejecting key recommendations of the NAC. Aruna Roy had recently criticised the government for its poor performance in the social sector. The latest flashpoint is that the government is not taking up recommendations of the NAC on minimum wages to workers under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA).

Earlier, the NAC and the PMO had a running battle over the need for amending the Right to Information (RTI) Act. While the PMO pushed for some amendments to the RTI Act to firm up the law, the NAC members like Aruna Roy saw it as attempts to dilute the RTI by the Government. In a letter to Sonia Gandhi, Aruna Roy requested that she should not be considered for another term of NAC that sets the social agenda for the Congress-led UP Government. Sonia Gandhi has accepted the request. Aruna Roy said, "I do believe that it is extremely unfortunate that the Prime Minister rejected the NAC recommendations on payment of minimum wages to MGNREGA workers and chose instead to appeal the Karnataka High Court judgment ordering payment of minimum wages to MGNREGA workers. Even more distressing is the Government's refusal to pay minimum wages even after the Supreme Court refused to stay the Karnataka High Court judgment. It is difficult to understand how a country like India can deny the payment of minimum wages and still makes claims of inclusive growth. However, I realise that this effort to persuade the Government to respect the minimum wages law must now continue outside the NAC." Highlighting the role of NAC, Aruna Roy said the working group on implementation of flagship programmes took up several issues related to implementation of MGNREGA. "The recommendations of the working group were sent to the Ministry, which has set up a programme advisory group to oversee implementation of these recommendations and the new guidelines that have been issued by the Rural Development Ministry. Despite its contribution to changing the lives of the rural poor, implementation of this crucial flagship programme remains a challenge," she said.