Chief minister J. Jayalalithaa on Tuesday announced the establishment of Social Audit Society of Tamil Nadu to monitor the disbursal of wages to workers employed under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA).
The move would introduce transparency in monitoring the distribution of salaries to workers.
According to a government release here on Tuesday, the establishment of the Social Audit Society of Tamil Nadu will help to create about 858 jobs across various levels.
Ms Jayalalithaa said on the basis of five educated labourers per panchayat, a total of 62,620 educated labourers would be appointed across various panchayats to undertake the auditing works.
She has also announced Rs 300 per month as permanent travelling allowance for panchayat secretaries and Rs 200 as special allowance for motor operators of overhead water tanks in rural areas. The initiative will benefit 12,524 people, the release said.
The statement further said that the chief minister had already issued orders to increase the daily wages of the labourers under MGNREGA from Rs 119 to Rs 132, benefitting about 25 lakh workers.
The MGNREGA ensures about 100 days of employment to the rural poor. The chief minister is well aware that villages form the backbone of the country and the growth of the nation hinges upon the rural areas.