08-23-2005, 03:37 PM
<b>Lok Sabha passes Rural Employment Bill </b><!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->The National Rural Employment Guarantee Bill, 2004, was passed by the House by voice vote after all amendments moved by the Opposition were rejected at the end of a marathon discussion.
In a spirited reply to the debate, Rural Development Minister Raghuvansh Prasad Singh sought to allay Opposition's apprehensions that funds would go down the drain saying strict monitoring and vigilance would be ensured at the level of village committees.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Rejecting the opposition charge that selection of districts could be guided by political considerations, he said the choice would be done only on the basis of SC/ST population, productivity and prevalent wage structure<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
In a spirited reply to the debate, Rural Development Minister Raghuvansh Prasad Singh sought to allay Opposition's apprehensions that funds would go down the drain saying strict monitoring and vigilance would be ensured at the level of village committees.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Rejecting the opposition charge that selection of districts could be guided by political considerations, he said the choice would be done only on the basis of SC/ST population, productivity and prevalent wage structure<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->