Punjab has become the first state in the country to appoint Ombudsman, a grievance redressal mechanism, to take up complaints against the Central Govt.’s flagship programme, Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MNREGA). The scheme was implemented in Punjab in 2006.<br/> <br/>Disclosing this the Minister for Rural Development and Panchayats, Punjab, Mr. Ranjit Singh Brahmpura said this has been done to take care of the complaints coming against the working of this programme. He said that this initiative would ensure transparency and accountability in the process to make MNREGA an effective instrument of poverty alleviation. <br/> <br/>As the Union Rural Development Ministry has decided to constitute a Working Group to look into the irregularities in MNREGA, Punjab has taken the lead by appointing Ombudsman. <br/> <br/>The state govt. has appointed six Ombudsman in the state who will look after all the 20 districts. They would work as an independent agency under Section 27 of MNREGA Act. The agency could receive complaints from the workers and others also on matters related to the programme. After consideration of such complaints it would facilitate their disposal in accordance with the law, at the earliest.<br/> <br/>The Ombudsman would report his findings on monthly basis to the State Chief Secretary and the Principal Secretary of Rural Development for appropriate legal action against erring persons. On receipt of the complaint, Ombudsman could issue directions for conducting spot investigation and can even order to lodge FIRs against the erring parties. His decision would be final.<br/>