Kakinada, Apr 6 (UNI) Union Minister of State for Defence M M Pallam Raju today said the Prime Minister had agreed to strengthen the monitoring mechanism to ensure that the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS) reach the target people.

Presiding over an NREGS vigilance and monitoring committee meeting here, he said ''the Centre will spend Rs 16,000 crore this year on the NREGS, which was instituted for the benefit of millions of people.'' Earlier, Andhra Pradesh Social Welfare Minister Pilli Subhas Chandra Bose came down heavily on TDP Mandal Parishad President (MPP) K Parvati after he was severely criticised for the alleged irregularities in implementation of the NREGS.

He alleged that irregularities were rampant during the TDP regime.

''The selection of party members for all government programmes started during your government. The food for work programme is a glaring example,'' he alleged.

''Hence let us not discuss such things. Contrary to the TDP government, our government is transparent in administration and no discrimination is shown while selecting beneficiaries for pension and housing schemes,'' he added.

UNI XR/AP NY PM1818