The Government is expected to unveil new guidelines for its flagship rural employment scheme– Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee (MGNRES) — which will have a special focus on the Naxal-affected areas and stress on skill development. Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh said the new guidelines would give authorities greater flexibility in the implementation of the scheme.Addressing a meeting of Parliamentary Consultative Committee on MGNREGA in New Delhi, Mr Ramesh said complaints had come mainly from states like Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand, where wages were not paid in some areas, ranging from nine months to a year. He said widespread consultations, including with state Chief Ministers, were on and soon the new guidelines would be issued.The Minister, however, said though the Act would not be changed as of now but the new guidelines would be simplified.On the issues of transparency, the Minister apprised the members of the new initiatives like strengthening of the audit mechanism and effective deployment of dedicated staff and other initiatives of the Ministry.