RAIPUR: Union Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh has said schemes under his ministry would be audited through the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG).
The ministry spends Rs one lakh crore for rural development every year and citizens have the right to know how the money is being spent, he told reporters here on Wednesday.
The Congress leader, who was on the tour of Naxal-hit areas of the state, conceded that there has been corruption in the MNREGA and Prime Minister’s rural road scheme.
Ramesh stated that the Centre had decided to give additional funds to Chhattisgarh for development works.
On Naxalism, Ramesh said it cannot be tackled only through force but development of the affected areas and generation of employment opportunities for the youth was also necessary.
To boost development in such areas, junior engineers and development officers would be recruited at the panchayat level and the youth would be given priority in recruitment, he said. The Union Minister said from now onwards additional funds for development in Naxal areas would be disbursed blockwise.
Earlier, the money was allocated if the entire district was declared Naxal-affected. (PTI)
