Deprecated (16384): The ArrayAccess methods will be removed in 4.0.0.Use getParam(), getData() and getQuery() instead. - /home/brlfuser/public_html/src/Controller/ArtileDetailController.php, line: 150
 You can disable deprecation warnings by setting `Error.errorLevel` to `E_ALL & ~E_USER_DEPRECATED` in your config/app.php. [CORE/src/Core/functions.php, line 311]
Deprecated (16384): The ArrayAccess methods will be removed in 4.0.0.Use getParam(), getData() and getQuery() instead. - /home/brlfuser/public_html/src/Controller/ArtileDetailController.php, line: 151
 You can disable deprecation warnings by setting `Error.errorLevel` to `E_ALL & ~E_USER_DEPRECATED` in your config/app.php. [CORE/src/Core/functions.php, line 311]
Warning (512): Unable to emit headers. Headers sent in file=/home/brlfuser/public_html/vendor/cakephp/cakephp/src/Error/Debugger.php line=853 [CORE/src/Http/ResponseEmitter.php, line 48]
Warning (2): Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at /home/brlfuser/public_html/vendor/cakephp/cakephp/src/Error/Debugger.php:853) [CORE/src/Http/ResponseEmitter.php, line 148]
Warning (2): Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at /home/brlfuser/public_html/vendor/cakephp/cakephp/src/Error/Debugger.php:853) [CORE/src/Http/ResponseEmitter.php, line 181]
LATEST NEWS UPDATES | House panel points to corruption in NREGA by Devesh Kumar

House panel points to corruption in NREGA by Devesh Kumar

Share this article Share this article
published Published on Jul 22, 2010   modified Modified on Jul 22, 2010

The meeting of the standing committee on the rural development ministry on Wednesday saw members, cutting across party lines, pick loopholes, and complain of large-scale corruption, in the implementation of Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA).

The parliamentary panel, which is headed by former Union minister and BJP leader Sumitra Mahajan, had on the discussion table the UPA government’s flagship rural development programme , and members voiced their unhappiness with the manner in which it was being executed.

Former Union minister Mani Shankar Aiyar, who is nominated member of the Rajya Sabha, set the tone for deliberations, highlighting severe flaws. “Article 243 (z) (d) of the Indian Constitution has a provision for setting up district planning committees. There are 29 subjects earmarked for the DPCs, but they have been non-functional in all the states. Their absence has adversely affected the implementation of the programme,” the Congress leader said. There was, he pointed out, one fundamental difference between the Employment Assurance Scheme and the MGNREGA, in that the government can dole out unemployment allowance under the latter scheme.

“However, the programme is not being implemented effectively anywhere. The ministry should be monitoring the number of jobs given under the scheme, the number of employment applications being turned down and the unemployment allowance not being distributed. This is not happening,” he told the panel.

He also picked up shortcomings in the convergence strategy. “The schemes identified for convergence have a total budgetary allocation of 1,35,000 crore. Out of this amount, 80,000 crore should go to the gram panchayats. Convergence will take place automatically,” Mr Aiyar argued.

Rashtriya Janata Dal MP Jagdanand Singh wondered whether the NREGA was a demand-driven programme or a budget-driven programme. “You (the ministry) is sitting on judgement over labour budget. It’s , under such circumstances , a budget-driven programme,” he observed. Citing from his experiences , the RJD leader told the committee that while the demand for employment under the scheme was there, it was getting suppressed by lack of funds. There was no continuous flow of funds, because of which projects either remain incomplete, or fail to take off at all,” Mr Singh alleged.

Almost all the members , who intervened in the deliberations, highlighted the rampant corruption prevalent in the scheme. The members from Uttar Pradesh were particularly vocal.

JD(U) Lok Sabha member Jagdish Sharma alleged that job cards were being pocketed either by the mukhiyas or the gram panchayat secretary . “They give only a small fraction of the funds to the labourers, walking away with the remaining amount,” he pointed out.

Mr Sanjay Shamrao Dhotre, BJP MP from Akola, said the vigilance and monitoring committees, formed in each district to keep a check on corruption , had been rendered non-functional . “The governments do not cooperate, and the chairman, who’s usually a minister , have no time for committee meetings ,” he maintained.


The Economic Times, 22 July, 2010, http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics/nation/House-panel-points-to-corruption-in-NREGA/articleshow/6198998.cms


Related Articles

 

Write Comments

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

*

Video Archives

Archives

share on Facebook
Twitter
RSS
Feedback
Read Later

Contact Form

Please enter security code
      Close