Following criticism over the implementation of the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS) in the state, Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee on Wednesday admitted that works under the scheme were being executed in a non-transparent way.

Bhattacharjee conceded that the average rate of providing work in all districts of the state is 21 days, while as per the scheme, it should be 100 days. He said this while speaking at a programme organised by the state Panchayat and Rural Affairs department.

“Corruption has penetrated the NREGA scheme. The implementation of the scheme has to be properly monitored in all panchayat areas. We must realise that we work for the poor and our work should not be influenced by political affiliation. While preparing a list of BPL beneficiaries, we must see to it that the poor are benefitted,” Bhattacharjee said.

He emphasised on decentralisation of power that has led to an increase in powers of self-governing bodies. He added the state is looking for options to generate more work under NREGS. “Under the scheme, we can take up the work of other departments — building embankments, canal siltation, rainwater harvesting and social forestry,” he said.

Pointing out anomalies in the preparation of the BPL list, Bhattacharjee said: “We accept that an error-free list is not possible. But this is absurd that 50 to 60 per cent people of the state live below the poverty line.” As of now, the state has prepared a BPL list consisting of beneficiaries from 170 blocks. The complete BPL list is expected to be ready by December, said M N Roy, Principal Secretary of the Panchayat and Rural Affairs department.