Union Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh has emphasised the need for greater accountability in the implementation of the Mahatma Gandhi NREGA. Addressing a workshop on Social Audit of NREGA in New Delhi on Tuesday, he noted the Ombudsmen set up by states for supervision of NREGA have not come up to the mark. He said if Act required to be amended to establish such a body at central level, government will not hesitate. The Minister stressed upon to build a system for a tighter financial accountability in implementation of all the flagship programmes of the Centre. Mr Jairam Ramesh said administrative delays should be addressed immediately to make Mahatma Gandhi NREG Scheme more effective. He said a permanent institutional mechanism with field staff to ensure accountability in the huge expenditure in implementing the NREGA. The Minister categorically denied of some media reports that government has informally asked States to go slow with its NREG scheme. He said on other hand, the government is eager to increase average no of days, which are at present is 47. AIR correspondent reports that in 2009, the Central Government directed the State governments to set up offices of Ombudsman to ensure transparency and accountability in implementation of the NREGA Act.