NREGA gets named after Mahatma

In its fourth year, NREGA has been rechristened after Mahatma Gandhi in a move which marks Congress’s tribute to the Father of the Nation and is also expected to stall rivals from appropriating its pro-poor flagship scheme. Announcing the decision at a conference of panchayat members to commemorate the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi on Friday, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh called it apt as Gandhi held the concept of ‘gram swaraj’ in high esteem. An amendment will be tabled in the winter session of Parliament to prefix NREGA with ‘Mahatma Gandhi’.