Union Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh on Sunday stressed that the panchayati raj system should be used to keep a watch on the working of MNREGA. Ramesh said at a Panchayati Raj Convention organised by the West Bengal Pradesh Congress Committee in Kolkata.

The Rural Development Minister visited Lalgarh, Binpur, Salboni and Sadar blocks of Maoist-affected West Midnapore district on Saturday. 60 districts in the country were declared as Maoist-affected and West Midnapore was one, Ramesh said, adding, the proposal of soon including the districts of Purulia and Bankura in West Bengal was being considered.

Ramesh also assured additional funds to the state for rural development.