Need for Involvement of States

The standing committee's recommendations on the NREG call for basic changes in the concept and design envisaged in the draft bill. They are essential, indeed imperative, if the programme is to be effective and thus deserve strong support. It should be obvious however that concurrence of the state governments and their willingness to abide by the operational implications of the legislation are essential. The most serious lacuna in the report is that it sidesteps the problems involved in ensuring that this precondition is met.