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LATEST NEWS UPDATES | Centre's step pushes UP govt into corner by Swati Mathur

Centre's step pushes UP govt into corner by Swati Mathur

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published Published on Mar 14, 2011   modified Modified on Mar 14, 2011
The seemingly never-ending slugfest between the Centre and state governments over the implementation of Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) has taken a new twist in Uttar Pradesh.

The Union ministry of rural development, in a circular dated 11 March, has laid down detailed processes that will be invoked in cases where the Centre receives any complaint regarding the issue or improper utilisation of funds.

Though the Central government notification applies to all states, in Uttar Pradesh, member, Central Employment Guarantee Council, Sanjay Dixit, has shot off a letter to minister, rural development, Vilasrao Deshmukh, complaining that the Centre had been too lenient in dealing with the state government after a series of anomalies in the implementation of the scheme were discovered across several districts.

In his letter to Deshmukh, Dixit, wrote: "In Uttar Pradesh, instances of misuse of MGNREGS funds were discovered in over a dozen districts. However, the Centre has not invoked Section 27 or stopped fund inflow. In light of the state government's inaction, stringent action should be initiated.'' When contacted, Dixit added: "With this circular, the UP government has been pushed into a corner. There are still a few instances, like Kanpur Dehat, where action has not been taken against officials concerned. The government will now have to clean up their act within a few days, to prevent Section 27(2) from being invoked.''

Under the Mahatma Gandhi NREG Act 2005, Section 27 provides that the Centre can investigate charges made against state governments and upon being satisfied with the charges, can stop Central assistance to the state concerned. Adding to the existing clause, the government's latest circular now lays down that "in case there is prima-facie case for further investigation, a proper statement of charges will be framed and sent to the respective state government for inquiry and response would be needed within a period of two weeks.'' The circular further adds that Central assistance to the state may be stopped if the state government fails to transfer accused officials `out of the area of operation of the MGNREGS'. Subsequently, Central funding will be restored after the Centre is satisfied that the state government has taken appropriate remedial measures.

A senior official from UP's department of rural development, said: "There is no denial that anomalies have been reported in the implementation of MGNREGS in UP. However, it is not true that the state government has not initiated action against errant officials. When charges have been proven against officials, they have been suspended. Departmental inquiries have also been initiated. The whole process takes time. This is nothing but a general circular by Government of India to make MGNREGS more efficient. We, in the UP government, welcome this move.''

The Times of India, 14 March, 2011, http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/lucknow/Centres-step-pushes-UP-govt-into-corner/articleshow/7696888.cms


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