Employment Guarantee Schemes - India

After hectic confabulations and negotiations within the UPA, we are all happy that Manomohan's team is in place, and is also raring to go. The only eyesore I will say is that Manmohan and Sonia have given in to Karuna's tantrums to accomodate his family members. This was definitely not easy to digest; followed immediately by the elevation of Stalin at Madras (Chennai) as the Deputy Chief Minister.
One of the schemes that was claimed a success in the previous regime, on which the Congress apparently rode to power, is the NREGS (National Rural EMployment Guarantee Scheme). This scheme provided for a minimum of 100 days wages to citizens in rural India for works that were taken up and completed.
This should be given a good thrust and the government should ensure this reaches all corners of the country in the next five years. In those areas where this has already begun, there should be continuity.
While this addresses the rural needs of the population, I see a pressing need to evolve such imaginative schemes even in the cities of India.
Let me cite an example or two:
1. Traffic management in the cities
All the cities in India have experienced an explosion of vehicles (specially four wheelers) on the roads. This exponential growth has not been supported by sufficient infrastructure facilities. Further this growth has also not been supported sufficiently by training vehicle owners, and users on road behaviour and discipline.
Why cant this be an initiative or responsibility of individual MPs to manage (1) road behaviour training, (2) manage and channelize the traffic in cities specially during peak hours, (3) manage traffic specific communication for the benefit of the citizens?
2. Maintenance of lakes and parks in cities
There are several lakes and parks in cities whose maintenance needs to be overseen and monitored on a daily basis to ensure cleanliness, and to prevent misuse.
In both the examples, the youth in the cities who are unemployed, are the intended beneficiaries of this scheme. An accepted recruitment drive (similar to the NREGS), or a specifically tailored recruitment for this scheme may be employed to get the youth on board. This should be followed a basic training as per the needs of the task at hand.
It will be best not to have long hours of work. Better still to have a shift system. Work output must be measured. The measuring criteria must be defined clearly, and made known. Wage payment should be on a weekly basis.
This should be funded by both the MP and the local MLA. The state can bear upto 40% of the funding, while the centre can provide 60% of the funding.
I sincerely hope the youth in the administration - both those in power, and those in government services sit down together, and evolve an implementable process that benefits the country. I have no doubts on their ability to conceive such programs. Implementation though will be a challenge.