The Centre’s proposal for national level awards for effective implementation of the MGNREGA has a few takers. While the UPA’s flagship is being implemented across the country only 13 States have submitted the proposals for the coveted national awards so far.

Disappointed by the dismal response, the Union Rural Development Ministry has extended the last date of submitting proposal to October 31 to ensure “wider participation in the award scheme.”

The initial date for submitting the application for MGNREGA award for 2010-11 was September 15.

Sources in the Rural Development Ministry told The Pioneer that till date the Ministry has received proposal from Andhra Pardesh, Bihar, Gujarat, Tripura, Kerala, Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh, Maharasthra, Chattisgarh, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Punjab and Himachal Pradesh.

Incidentally, Sikkim which became the only state in 2009-10 to bag national award in all three categories-- gram panchayats, district MGNREGA teams and NGOs --for exemplary work done under the scheme has preferred not  to submit any proposal for the award this year.

As per proposals from the states, while West Bengal has sought award for Malda, Hooghly, Birbhum and Burdwan claiming that they have effectively implemented MGNREGA administration, it is two districts each in Kullu and Mandi and Amritsar and Hoshiyarpur in Himachal Pradesh and Punjab respectively which have submitted their entry.

Tamil Nadu has pitched in for its four districts namely Salem, Coimbatore, Dindigul, Erodc and Nilgiris while as per Maharashtra, Amrawati, Thane and Nanded have done well in ensuring good results in the scheme that aims at enhancing the livelihood security of people in rural areas by guaranteeing hundred days of wage-employment in a financial year to a rural household whose adult members volunteer to do unskilled manual work.

Best performing gram panchayats, district MGNREGA teams and NGOs are given awards every year by the Union Rural Development Ministry.