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: 73
 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]
Code Context


        trigger_error($message, E_USER_DEPRECATED);

    }
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 You can disable deprecation warnings by setting `Error.errorLevel` to `E_ALL & ~E_USER_DEPRECATED` in your config/app.php.'
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deprecationWarning - CORE/src/Core/functions.php, line 311
Cake\Http\ServerRequest::offsetGet() - CORE/src/Http/ServerRequest.php, line 2421
App\Controller\ArtileDetailController::printArticle() - APP/Controller/ArtileDetailController.php, line 73
Cake\Controller\Controller::invokeAction() - CORE/src/Controller/Controller.php, line 610
Cake\Http\ActionDispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/src/Http/ActionDispatcher.php, line 120
Cake\Http\ActionDispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/src/Http/ActionDispatcher.php, line 94
Cake\Http\BaseApplication::__invoke() - CORE/src/Http/BaseApplication.php, line 235
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Cake\Http\Runner::__invoke() - CORE/src/Http/Runner.php, line 65
Cake\Routing\Middleware\AssetMiddleware::__invoke() - CORE/src/Routing/Middleware/AssetMiddleware.php, line 88
Cake\Http\Runner::__invoke() - CORE/src/Http/Runner.php, line 65
Cake\Error\Middleware\ErrorHandlerMiddleware::__invoke() - CORE/src/Error/Middleware/ErrorHandlerMiddleware.php, line 96
Cake\Http\Runner::__invoke() - CORE/src/Http/Runner.php, line 65
Cake\Http\Runner::run() - CORE/src/Http/Runner.php, line 51
Cake\Http\Server::run() - CORE/src/Http/Server.php, line 98

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: 74
 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]
Code Context


        trigger_error($message, E_USER_DEPRECATED);

    }
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 You can disable deprecation warnings by setting `Error.errorLevel` to `E_ALL & ~E_USER_DEPRECATED` in your config/app.php.'
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deprecationWarning - CORE/src/Core/functions.php, line 311
Cake\Http\ServerRequest::offsetGet() - CORE/src/Http/ServerRequest.php, line 2421
App\Controller\ArtileDetailController::printArticle() - APP/Controller/ArtileDetailController.php, line 74
Cake\Controller\Controller::invokeAction() - CORE/src/Controller/Controller.php, line 610
Cake\Http\ActionDispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/src/Http/ActionDispatcher.php, line 120
Cake\Http\ActionDispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/src/Http/ActionDispatcher.php, line 94
Cake\Http\BaseApplication::__invoke() - CORE/src/Http/BaseApplication.php, line 235
Cake\Http\Runner::__invoke() - CORE/src/Http/Runner.php, line 65
Cake\Routing\Middleware\RoutingMiddleware::__invoke() - CORE/src/Routing/Middleware/RoutingMiddleware.php, line 162
Cake\Http\Runner::__invoke() - CORE/src/Http/Runner.php, line 65
Cake\Routing\Middleware\AssetMiddleware::__invoke() - CORE/src/Routing/Middleware/AssetMiddleware.php, line 88
Cake\Http\Runner::__invoke() - CORE/src/Http/Runner.php, line 65
Cake\Error\Middleware\ErrorHandlerMiddleware::__invoke() - CORE/src/Error/Middleware/ErrorHandlerMiddleware.php, line 96
Cake\Http\Runner::__invoke() - CORE/src/Http/Runner.php, line 65
Cake\Http\Runner::run() - CORE/src/Http/Runner.php, line 51
Cake\Http\Server::run() - CORE/src/Http/Server.php, line 98

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]
Code Context
            if (Configure::read('debug')) {

                trigger_error($message, E_USER_WARNING);

            } else {
$response = object(Cake\Http\Response) {

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</span></span></code>
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-Business Standard&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;em&gt;Read Part I of the series: The Centre used an off-the-record WhatsApp group to instruct states to check spending and work for rural poor under MNREGA&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
New Delhi: &lt;/em&gt;Noticing a steep rise in demand for work under MNREGA in the drought year, the rural development ministry used an off-record WhatsApp chat group and told states to desist from generating more work for the poor under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee programme in August, the ministry told the state officials that the &#039;mad race&#039; for generating work under MNREGA could not continue. It warned that more funds would not be made available soon and states had to &#039;plan&#039; more &#039;judiciously&#039; with the money they had already received. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The instructions ran contrary to the provisions of the MNREG Act, which makes it mandatory for the government to provide as much funds as are required for the work demanded by the rural poor and not curtail work to fit its budgetary decisions. But, on the WhatsApp group the NDA government told the states that the idea that MNREGA was demand driven &#039;did not cut much ice anymore&#039;. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Faced with this informally imposed moratorium on funds, many states repeatedly pleaded the rural development ministry on the WhatsApp group for immediate release of monies to pay hundreds of crores of already piled up arrears to the poor for the work that had been completed. But faced with the Centre&amp;rsquo;s off-record instructions, the work states provided to the rural poor in August and September came crashing down. In July 30, million extra persondays of work was given as compared to what Centre had initially approved. In September, the work provided was 54.48 million persondays less than what was initially approved for the month. This, when the budgeted work for September had anyway been kept substantially lower than that for July, adjusting for the usual lower demand in monsoon period.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Business Standard reviewed the WhatsApp chat group named ENCORE or &#039;Enabling Communication on Rural Employment&#039; by the rural development ministry.&amp;nbsp; It has all senior ministry officials and state level MNREGA officials as members, besides others. The ministry claimed, &amp;quot;It is simply a convenience for follow-up and reminders as also for showcasing good work by States through uploading of pictures.&amp;quot; &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
But instructions from the Union rural development ministry to the state officials on the WhatsApp group shows that the chat was also used as an off-record avenue for the Union government to pass instructions that it could not have done through formal channels, keeping the law in mind. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
On August 14, the rural development ministry&amp;rsquo;s joint secretary in-charge of MNREGA told the states, &amp;quot;We ought to desist from campaigns for enlisting demand and indulging in the mad race of more and more personday generation (generating of wages). While the Act (MNREG Act) does not distinguish between APL and BPL (those above and below poverty line) and vulnerable/non-vulnerable, we have to &#039;intelligently&#039; communicate to the district/block/GP authorities to learn to target.&amp;quot;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
On August 28 the rural development ministry official told the states, &amp;quot;To resort to the logic that it is a demand-driven programme and whatever is asked for will be given, does not cut much ice now. This has been voiced in the Honourable Supreme Court too. There has to be a pragmatic handling of funds&amp;quot;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The officer added, &amp;quot;Our demands cannot be unlimited for the simple reason that the resources are limited-both of the Centre and the states. The Ministry had emphatically and clearly communicated during the previous fund release that we have to strategically plan out the spending till September, 2016.&amp;quot;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
In response to queries from Business Standard, the rural development ministry said, &amp;quot;The Ministry is committed to implement the MGNREG Act in letter and spirit.&amp;quot;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
It added, &amp;quot;While work on demand is being made available as reflected in the very high persondays generation especially during periods of drought and distress, a demand based programme also requires proper record keeping, financial management and full transparency and accountability.&amp;quot; &amp;nbsp;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;strong&gt;Other states pleading for funds on WhatsApp:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
Jammu and Kashmir &amp;mdash; &amp;quot;Our state is in dire need of funds. Only Rs 2.4 crore in SEGF (state&amp;rsquo;s MNREGA) account. Please consider our proposal for release of 2nd instalment&amp;hellip;We require immediate funds for engaging the rural masses.&amp;quot; &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Jharkhand &amp;mdash; &amp;quot;Request to release central share too as we don&amp;rsquo;t have any funds too.&amp;quot;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Mizoram &amp;mdash; &amp;quot;Mizoram is eagerly waiting for fund release as we have received only Rs 19 crore in the current financial year.&amp;quot;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Bihar &amp;mdash; &amp;quot;Allocation of Rs 235 crore in SEGF for material and admin exhausted and despite our efforts for reconciliation the fund are yet to be released. We need your support to get the release so that material intensive works can be taken up.&amp;quot;
&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;div align=&quot;justify&quot;&gt;
&amp;nbsp;
&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;div align=&quot;justify&quot;&gt;
Please &lt;a href=&quot;../latest-news-updates/massive-slump-in-mnrega-work-after-centre039s-unofficial-instructions-nitin-sethi-4680429.html&quot;&gt;click here&lt;/a&gt; to access the part-2 of the series.&amp;nbsp; 
&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;div align=&quot;justify&quot;&gt;
&amp;nbsp;
&lt;/div&gt;&#039;,
		&#039;credit_writer&#039; =&gt; &#039;Business Standard, 24 October, 2016, http://www.business-standard.com/article/current-affairs/how-govt-used-whatsapp-to-curtail-work-given-under-mnrega-116102400673_1.html#.WA4J0Ylsn3U.twitter&#039;,
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-Business Standard

Read Part I of the series: The Centre used an off-the-record WhatsApp group to instruct states to check spending and work for rural poor under MNREGA

New Delhi: Noticing a steep rise in demand for work under MNREGA in the...&#039;,
	&#039;disp&#039; =&gt; &#039;&lt;div align=&quot;justify&quot;&gt;-Business Standard&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;em&gt;Read Part I of the series: The Centre used an off-the-record WhatsApp group to instruct states to check spending and work for rural poor under MNREGA&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;New Delhi: &lt;/em&gt;Noticing a steep rise in demand for work under MNREGA in the drought year, the rural development ministry used an off-record WhatsApp chat group and told states to desist from generating more work for the poor under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee programme in August, the ministry told the state officials that the &#039;mad race&#039; for generating work under MNREGA could not continue. It warned that more funds would not be made available soon and states had to &#039;plan&#039; more &#039;judiciously&#039; with the money they had already received. &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The instructions ran contrary to the provisions of the MNREG Act, which makes it mandatory for the government to provide as much funds as are required for the work demanded by the rural poor and not curtail work to fit its budgetary decisions. But, on the WhatsApp group the NDA government told the states that the idea that MNREGA was demand driven &#039;did not cut much ice anymore&#039;. &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Faced with this informally imposed moratorium on funds, many states repeatedly pleaded the rural development ministry on the WhatsApp group for immediate release of monies to pay hundreds of crores of already piled up arrears to the poor for the work that had been completed. But faced with the Centre&amp;rsquo;s off-record instructions, the work states provided to the rural poor in August and September came crashing down. In July 30, million extra persondays of work was given as compared to what Centre had initially approved. In September, the work provided was 54.48 million persondays less than what was initially approved for the month. This, when the budgeted work for September had anyway been kept substantially lower than that for July, adjusting for the usual lower demand in monsoon period.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Business Standard reviewed the WhatsApp chat group named ENCORE or &#039;Enabling Communication on Rural Employment&#039; by the rural development ministry.&amp;nbsp; It has all senior ministry officials and state level MNREGA officials as members, besides others. The ministry claimed, &amp;quot;It is simply a convenience for follow-up and reminders as also for showcasing good work by States through uploading of pictures.&amp;quot; &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;But instructions from the Union rural development ministry to the state officials on the WhatsApp group shows that the chat was also used as an off-record avenue for the Union government to pass instructions that it could not have done through formal channels, keeping the law in mind. &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;On August 14, the rural development ministry&amp;rsquo;s joint secretary in-charge of MNREGA told the states, &amp;quot;We ought to desist from campaigns for enlisting demand and indulging in the mad race of more and more personday generation (generating of wages). While the Act (MNREG Act) does not distinguish between APL and BPL (those above and below poverty line) and vulnerable/non-vulnerable, we have to &#039;intelligently&#039; communicate to the district/block/GP authorities to learn to target.&amp;quot;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;On August 28 the rural development ministry official told the states, &amp;quot;To resort to the logic that it is a demand-driven programme and whatever is asked for will be given, does not cut much ice now. This has been voiced in the Honourable Supreme Court too. There has to be a pragmatic handling of funds&amp;quot;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The officer added, &amp;quot;Our demands cannot be unlimited for the simple reason that the resources are limited-both of the Centre and the states. The Ministry had emphatically and clearly communicated during the previous fund release that we have to strategically plan out the spending till September, 2016.&amp;quot;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;In response to queries from Business Standard, the rural development ministry said, &amp;quot;The Ministry is committed to implement the MGNREG Act in letter and spirit.&amp;quot;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;It added, &amp;quot;While work on demand is being made available as reflected in the very high persondays generation especially during periods of drought and distress, a demand based programme also requires proper record keeping, financial management and full transparency and accountability.&amp;quot; &amp;nbsp;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Other states pleading for funds on WhatsApp:&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Jammu and Kashmir &amp;mdash; &amp;quot;Our state is in dire need of funds. Only Rs 2.4 crore in SEGF (state&amp;rsquo;s MNREGA) account. Please consider our proposal for release of 2nd instalment&amp;hellip;We require immediate funds for engaging the rural masses.&amp;quot; &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Jharkhand &amp;mdash; &amp;quot;Request to release central share too as we don&amp;rsquo;t have any funds too.&amp;quot;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Mizoram &amp;mdash; &amp;quot;Mizoram is eagerly waiting for fund release as we have received only Rs 19 crore in the current financial year.&amp;quot;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Bihar &amp;mdash; &amp;quot;Allocation of Rs 235 crore in SEGF for material and admin exhausted and despite our efforts for reconciliation the fund are yet to be released. We need your support to get the release so that material intensive works can be taken up.&amp;quot;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div align=&quot;justify&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div align=&quot;justify&quot;&gt;Please &lt;a href=&quot;https://im4change.in/latest-news-updates/massive-slump-in-mnrega-work-after-centre039s-unofficial-instructions-nitin-sethi-4680429.html&quot; title=&quot;https://im4change.in/latest-news-updates/massive-slump-in-mnrega-work-after-centre039s-unofficial-instructions-nitin-sethi-4680429.html&quot;&gt;click here&lt;/a&gt; to access the part-2 of the series.&amp;nbsp; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div align=&quot;justify&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/div&gt;&#039;,
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	&#039;subheading&#039; =&gt; &#039;&#039;,
	&#039;description&#039; =&gt; &#039;&lt;div align=&quot;justify&quot;&gt;
-Business Standard&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;em&gt;Read Part I of the series: The Centre used an off-the-record WhatsApp group to instruct states to check spending and work for rural poor under MNREGA&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
New Delhi: &lt;/em&gt;Noticing a steep rise in demand for work under MNREGA in the drought year, the rural development ministry used an off-record WhatsApp chat group and told states to desist from generating more work for the poor under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee programme in August, the ministry told the state officials that the &#039;mad race&#039; for generating work under MNREGA could not continue. It warned that more funds would not be made available soon and states had to &#039;plan&#039; more &#039;judiciously&#039; with the money they had already received. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The instructions ran contrary to the provisions of the MNREG Act, which makes it mandatory for the government to provide as much funds as are required for the work demanded by the rural poor and not curtail work to fit its budgetary decisions. But, on the WhatsApp group the NDA government told the states that the idea that MNREGA was demand driven &#039;did not cut much ice anymore&#039;. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Faced with this informally imposed moratorium on funds, many states repeatedly pleaded the rural development ministry on the WhatsApp group for immediate release of monies to pay hundreds of crores of already piled up arrears to the poor for the work that had been completed. But faced with the Centre&amp;rsquo;s off-record instructions, the work states provided to the rural poor in August and September came crashing down. In July 30, million extra persondays of work was given as compared to what Centre had initially approved. In September, the work provided was 54.48 million persondays less than what was initially approved for the month. This, when the budgeted work for September had anyway been kept substantially lower than that for July, adjusting for the usual lower demand in monsoon period.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Business Standard reviewed the WhatsApp chat group named ENCORE or &#039;Enabling Communication on Rural Employment&#039; by the rural development ministry.&amp;nbsp; It has all senior ministry officials and state level MNREGA officials as members, besides others. The ministry claimed, &amp;quot;It is simply a convenience for follow-up and reminders as also for showcasing good work by States through uploading of pictures.&amp;quot; &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
But instructions from the Union rural development ministry to the state officials on the WhatsApp group shows that the chat was also used as an off-record avenue for the Union government to pass instructions that it could not have done through formal channels, keeping the law in mind. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
On August 14, the rural development ministry&amp;rsquo;s joint secretary in-charge of MNREGA told the states, &amp;quot;We ought to desist from campaigns for enlisting demand and indulging in the mad race of more and more personday generation (generating of wages). While the Act (MNREG Act) does not distinguish between APL and BPL (those above and below poverty line) and vulnerable/non-vulnerable, we have to &#039;intelligently&#039; communicate to the district/block/GP authorities to learn to target.&amp;quot;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
On August 28 the rural development ministry official told the states, &amp;quot;To resort to the logic that it is a demand-driven programme and whatever is asked for will be given, does not cut much ice now. This has been voiced in the Honourable Supreme Court too. There has to be a pragmatic handling of funds&amp;quot;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The officer added, &amp;quot;Our demands cannot be unlimited for the simple reason that the resources are limited-both of the Centre and the states. The Ministry had emphatically and clearly communicated during the previous fund release that we have to strategically plan out the spending till September, 2016.&amp;quot;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
In response to queries from Business Standard, the rural development ministry said, &amp;quot;The Ministry is committed to implement the MGNREG Act in letter and spirit.&amp;quot;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
It added, &amp;quot;While work on demand is being made available as reflected in the very high persondays generation especially during periods of drought and distress, a demand based programme also requires proper record keeping, financial management and full transparency and accountability.&amp;quot; &amp;nbsp;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;strong&gt;Other states pleading for funds on WhatsApp:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
Jammu and Kashmir &amp;mdash; &amp;quot;Our state is in dire need of funds. Only Rs 2.4 crore in SEGF (state&amp;rsquo;s MNREGA) account. Please consider our proposal for release of 2nd instalment&amp;hellip;We require immediate funds for engaging the rural masses.&amp;quot; &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Jharkhand &amp;mdash; &amp;quot;Request to release central share too as we don&amp;rsquo;t have any funds too.&amp;quot;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Mizoram &amp;mdash; &amp;quot;Mizoram is eagerly waiting for fund release as we have received only Rs 19 crore in the current financial year.&amp;quot;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Bihar &amp;mdash; &amp;quot;Allocation of Rs 235 crore in SEGF for material and admin exhausted and despite our efforts for reconciliation the fund are yet to be released. We need your support to get the release so that material intensive works can be taken up.&amp;quot;
&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;div align=&quot;justify&quot;&gt;
&amp;nbsp;
&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;div align=&quot;justify&quot;&gt;
Please &lt;a href=&quot;../latest-news-updates/massive-slump-in-mnrega-work-after-centre039s-unofficial-instructions-nitin-sethi-4680429.html&quot;&gt;click here&lt;/a&gt; to access the part-2 of the series.&amp;nbsp; 
&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;div align=&quot;justify&quot;&gt;
&amp;nbsp;
&lt;/div&gt;&#039;,
	&#039;credit_writer&#039; =&gt; &#039;Business Standard, 24 October, 2016, http://www.business-standard.com/article/current-affairs/how-govt-used-whatsapp-to-curtail-work-given-under-mnrega-116102400673_1.html#.WA4J0Ylsn3U.twitter&#039;,
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-Business Standard

Read Part I of the series: The Centre used an off-the-record WhatsApp group to instruct states to check spending and work for rural poor under MNREGA

New Delhi: Noticing a steep rise in demand for work under MNREGA in the...&#039;
$disp = &#039;&lt;div align=&quot;justify&quot;&gt;-Business Standard&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;em&gt;Read Part I of the series: The Centre used an off-the-record WhatsApp group to instruct states to check spending and work for rural poor under MNREGA&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;New Delhi: &lt;/em&gt;Noticing a steep rise in demand for work under MNREGA in the drought year, the rural development ministry used an off-record WhatsApp chat group and told states to desist from generating more work for the poor under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee programme in August, the ministry told the state officials that the &#039;mad race&#039; for generating work under MNREGA could not continue. It warned that more funds would not be made available soon and states had to &#039;plan&#039; more &#039;judiciously&#039; with the money they had already received. &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The instructions ran contrary to the provisions of the MNREG Act, which makes it mandatory for the government to provide as much funds as are required for the work demanded by the rural poor and not curtail work to fit its budgetary decisions. But, on the WhatsApp group the NDA government told the states that the idea that MNREGA was demand driven &#039;did not cut much ice anymore&#039;. &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Faced with this informally imposed moratorium on funds, many states repeatedly pleaded the rural development ministry on the WhatsApp group for immediate release of monies to pay hundreds of crores of already piled up arrears to the poor for the work that had been completed. But faced with the Centre&amp;rsquo;s off-record instructions, the work states provided to the rural poor in August and September came crashing down. In July 30, million extra persondays of work was given as compared to what Centre had initially approved. In September, the work provided was 54.48 million persondays less than what was initially approved for the month. This, when the budgeted work for September had anyway been kept substantially lower than that for July, adjusting for the usual lower demand in monsoon period.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Business Standard reviewed the WhatsApp chat group named ENCORE or &#039;Enabling Communication on Rural Employment&#039; by the rural development ministry.&amp;nbsp; It has all senior ministry officials and state level MNREGA officials as members, besides others. The ministry claimed, &amp;quot;It is simply a convenience for follow-up and reminders as also for showcasing good work by States through uploading of pictures.&amp;quot; &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;But instructions from the Union rural development ministry to the state officials on the WhatsApp group shows that the chat was also used as an off-record avenue for the Union government to pass instructions that it could not have done through formal channels, keeping the law in mind. &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;On August 14, the rural development ministry&amp;rsquo;s joint secretary in-charge of MNREGA told the states, &amp;quot;We ought to desist from campaigns for enlisting demand and indulging in the mad race of more and more personday generation (generating of wages). While the Act (MNREG Act) does not distinguish between APL and BPL (those above and below poverty line) and vulnerable/non-vulnerable, we have to &#039;intelligently&#039; communicate to the district/block/GP authorities to learn to target.&amp;quot;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;On August 28 the rural development ministry official told the states, &amp;quot;To resort to the logic that it is a demand-driven programme and whatever is asked for will be given, does not cut much ice now. This has been voiced in the Honourable Supreme Court too. There has to be a pragmatic handling of funds&amp;quot;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The officer added, &amp;quot;Our demands cannot be unlimited for the simple reason that the resources are limited-both of the Centre and the states. The Ministry had emphatically and clearly communicated during the previous fund release that we have to strategically plan out the spending till September, 2016.&amp;quot;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;In response to queries from Business Standard, the rural development ministry said, &amp;quot;The Ministry is committed to implement the MGNREG Act in letter and spirit.&amp;quot;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;It added, &amp;quot;While work on demand is being made available as reflected in the very high persondays generation especially during periods of drought and distress, a demand based programme also requires proper record keeping, financial management and full transparency and accountability.&amp;quot; &amp;nbsp;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Other states pleading for funds on WhatsApp:&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Jammu and Kashmir &amp;mdash; &amp;quot;Our state is in dire need of funds. Only Rs 2.4 crore in SEGF (state&amp;rsquo;s MNREGA) account. Please consider our proposal for release of 2nd instalment&amp;hellip;We require immediate funds for engaging the rural masses.&amp;quot; &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Jharkhand &amp;mdash; &amp;quot;Request to release central share too as we don&amp;rsquo;t have any funds too.&amp;quot;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Mizoram &amp;mdash; &amp;quot;Mizoram is eagerly waiting for fund release as we have received only Rs 19 crore in the current financial year.&amp;quot;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Bihar &amp;mdash; &amp;quot;Allocation of Rs 235 crore in SEGF for material and admin exhausted and despite our efforts for reconciliation the fund are yet to be released. We need your support to get the release so that material intensive works can be taken up.&amp;quot;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div align=&quot;justify&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div align=&quot;justify&quot;&gt;Please &lt;a href=&quot;https://im4change.in/latest-news-updates/massive-slump-in-mnrega-work-after-centre039s-unofficial-instructions-nitin-sethi-4680429.html&quot; title=&quot;https://im4change.in/latest-news-updates/massive-slump-in-mnrega-work-after-centre039s-unofficial-instructions-nitin-sethi-4680429.html&quot;&gt;click here&lt;/a&gt; to access the part-2 of the series.&amp;nbsp; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div align=&quot;justify&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/div&gt;&#039;
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Read Part I of the series: The Centre used an off-the-record WhatsApp group to instruct states to check spending and work for rural poor under MNREGA

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                <strong>How govt used WhatsApp to curtail work given under MNREGA -Nitin Sethi</strong></h1>
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                <div align="justify">-Business Standard<br /><br /><em>Read Part I of the series: The Centre used an off-the-record WhatsApp group to instruct states to check spending and work for rural poor under MNREGA<br /><br />New Delhi: </em>Noticing a steep rise in demand for work under MNREGA in the drought year, the rural development ministry used an off-record WhatsApp chat group and told states to desist from generating more work for the poor under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee programme in August, the ministry told the state officials that the 'mad race' for generating work under MNREGA could not continue. It warned that more funds would not be made available soon and states had to 'plan' more 'judiciously' with the money they had already received. <br /><br />The instructions ran contrary to the provisions of the MNREG Act, which makes it mandatory for the government to provide as much funds as are required for the work demanded by the rural poor and not curtail work to fit its budgetary decisions. But, on the WhatsApp group the NDA government told the states that the idea that MNREGA was demand driven 'did not cut much ice anymore'. <br /><br />Faced with this informally imposed moratorium on funds, many states repeatedly pleaded the rural development ministry on the WhatsApp group for immediate release of monies to pay hundreds of crores of already piled up arrears to the poor for the work that had been completed. But faced with the Centre&rsquo;s off-record instructions, the work states provided to the rural poor in August and September came crashing down. In July 30, million extra persondays of work was given as compared to what Centre had initially approved. In September, the work provided was 54.48 million persondays less than what was initially approved for the month. This, when the budgeted work for September had anyway been kept substantially lower than that for July, adjusting for the usual lower demand in monsoon period.<br /><br />Business Standard reviewed the WhatsApp chat group named ENCORE or 'Enabling Communication on Rural Employment' by the rural development ministry.&nbsp; It has all senior ministry officials and state level MNREGA officials as members, besides others. The ministry claimed, &quot;It is simply a convenience for follow-up and reminders as also for showcasing good work by States through uploading of pictures.&quot; <br /><br />But instructions from the Union rural development ministry to the state officials on the WhatsApp group shows that the chat was also used as an off-record avenue for the Union government to pass instructions that it could not have done through formal channels, keeping the law in mind. <br /><br />On August 14, the rural development ministry&rsquo;s joint secretary in-charge of MNREGA told the states, &quot;We ought to desist from campaigns for enlisting demand and indulging in the mad race of more and more personday generation (generating of wages). While the Act (MNREG Act) does not distinguish between APL and BPL (those above and below poverty line) and vulnerable/non-vulnerable, we have to 'intelligently' communicate to the district/block/GP authorities to learn to target.&quot;<br /><br />On August 28 the rural development ministry official told the states, &quot;To resort to the logic that it is a demand-driven programme and whatever is asked for will be given, does not cut much ice now. This has been voiced in the Honourable Supreme Court too. There has to be a pragmatic handling of funds&quot;<br /><br />The officer added, &quot;Our demands cannot be unlimited for the simple reason that the resources are limited-both of the Centre and the states. The Ministry had emphatically and clearly communicated during the previous fund release that we have to strategically plan out the spending till September, 2016.&quot;<br /><br />In response to queries from Business Standard, the rural development ministry said, &quot;The Ministry is committed to implement the MGNREG Act in letter and spirit.&quot;<br /><br />It added, &quot;While work on demand is being made available as reflected in the very high persondays generation especially during periods of drought and distress, a demand based programme also requires proper record keeping, financial management and full transparency and accountability.&quot; &nbsp;<br /><br /><strong>Other states pleading for funds on WhatsApp:<br /></strong><br />Jammu and Kashmir &mdash; &quot;Our state is in dire need of funds. Only Rs 2.4 crore in SEGF (state&rsquo;s MNREGA) account. Please consider our proposal for release of 2nd instalment&hellip;We require immediate funds for engaging the rural masses.&quot; <br /><br />Jharkhand &mdash; &quot;Request to release central share too as we don&rsquo;t have any funds too.&quot;<br /><br />Mizoram &mdash; &quot;Mizoram is eagerly waiting for fund release as we have received only Rs 19 crore in the current financial year.&quot;<br /><br />Bihar &mdash; &quot;Allocation of Rs 235 crore in SEGF for material and admin exhausted and despite our efforts for reconciliation the fund are yet to be released. We need your support to get the release so that material intensive works can be taken up.&quot;</div><div align="justify">&nbsp;</div><div align="justify">Please <a href="https://im4change.in/latest-news-updates/massive-slump-in-mnrega-work-after-centre039s-unofficial-instructions-nitin-sethi-4680429.html" title="https://im4change.in/latest-news-updates/massive-slump-in-mnrega-work-after-centre039s-unofficial-instructions-nitin-sethi-4680429.html">click here</a> to access the part-2 of the series.&nbsp; </div><div align="justify">&nbsp;</div>               </font>
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		&#039;title&#039; =&gt; &#039;How govt used WhatsApp to curtail work given under MNREGA -Nitin Sethi&#039;,
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-Business Standard&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;em&gt;Read Part I of the series: The Centre used an off-the-record WhatsApp group to instruct states to check spending and work for rural poor under MNREGA&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
New Delhi: &lt;/em&gt;Noticing a steep rise in demand for work under MNREGA in the drought year, the rural development ministry used an off-record WhatsApp chat group and told states to desist from generating more work for the poor under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee programme in August, the ministry told the state officials that the &#039;mad race&#039; for generating work under MNREGA could not continue. It warned that more funds would not be made available soon and states had to &#039;plan&#039; more &#039;judiciously&#039; with the money they had already received. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The instructions ran contrary to the provisions of the MNREG Act, which makes it mandatory for the government to provide as much funds as are required for the work demanded by the rural poor and not curtail work to fit its budgetary decisions. But, on the WhatsApp group the NDA government told the states that the idea that MNREGA was demand driven &#039;did not cut much ice anymore&#039;. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Faced with this informally imposed moratorium on funds, many states repeatedly pleaded the rural development ministry on the WhatsApp group for immediate release of monies to pay hundreds of crores of already piled up arrears to the poor for the work that had been completed. But faced with the Centre&amp;rsquo;s off-record instructions, the work states provided to the rural poor in August and September came crashing down. In July 30, million extra persondays of work was given as compared to what Centre had initially approved. In September, the work provided was 54.48 million persondays less than what was initially approved for the month. This, when the budgeted work for September had anyway been kept substantially lower than that for July, adjusting for the usual lower demand in monsoon period.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Business Standard reviewed the WhatsApp chat group named ENCORE or &#039;Enabling Communication on Rural Employment&#039; by the rural development ministry.&amp;nbsp; It has all senior ministry officials and state level MNREGA officials as members, besides others. The ministry claimed, &amp;quot;It is simply a convenience for follow-up and reminders as also for showcasing good work by States through uploading of pictures.&amp;quot; &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
But instructions from the Union rural development ministry to the state officials on the WhatsApp group shows that the chat was also used as an off-record avenue for the Union government to pass instructions that it could not have done through formal channels, keeping the law in mind. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
On August 14, the rural development ministry&amp;rsquo;s joint secretary in-charge of MNREGA told the states, &amp;quot;We ought to desist from campaigns for enlisting demand and indulging in the mad race of more and more personday generation (generating of wages). While the Act (MNREG Act) does not distinguish between APL and BPL (those above and below poverty line) and vulnerable/non-vulnerable, we have to &#039;intelligently&#039; communicate to the district/block/GP authorities to learn to target.&amp;quot;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
On August 28 the rural development ministry official told the states, &amp;quot;To resort to the logic that it is a demand-driven programme and whatever is asked for will be given, does not cut much ice now. This has been voiced in the Honourable Supreme Court too. There has to be a pragmatic handling of funds&amp;quot;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The officer added, &amp;quot;Our demands cannot be unlimited for the simple reason that the resources are limited-both of the Centre and the states. The Ministry had emphatically and clearly communicated during the previous fund release that we have to strategically plan out the spending till September, 2016.&amp;quot;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
In response to queries from Business Standard, the rural development ministry said, &amp;quot;The Ministry is committed to implement the MGNREG Act in letter and spirit.&amp;quot;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
It added, &amp;quot;While work on demand is being made available as reflected in the very high persondays generation especially during periods of drought and distress, a demand based programme also requires proper record keeping, financial management and full transparency and accountability.&amp;quot; &amp;nbsp;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;strong&gt;Other states pleading for funds on WhatsApp:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
Jammu and Kashmir &amp;mdash; &amp;quot;Our state is in dire need of funds. Only Rs 2.4 crore in SEGF (state&amp;rsquo;s MNREGA) account. Please consider our proposal for release of 2nd instalment&amp;hellip;We require immediate funds for engaging the rural masses.&amp;quot; &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Jharkhand &amp;mdash; &amp;quot;Request to release central share too as we don&amp;rsquo;t have any funds too.&amp;quot;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Mizoram &amp;mdash; &amp;quot;Mizoram is eagerly waiting for fund release as we have received only Rs 19 crore in the current financial year.&amp;quot;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Bihar &amp;mdash; &amp;quot;Allocation of Rs 235 crore in SEGF for material and admin exhausted and despite our efforts for reconciliation the fund are yet to be released. We need your support to get the release so that material intensive works can be taken up.&amp;quot;
&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;div align=&quot;justify&quot;&gt;
&amp;nbsp;
&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;div align=&quot;justify&quot;&gt;
Please &lt;a href=&quot;../latest-news-updates/massive-slump-in-mnrega-work-after-centre039s-unofficial-instructions-nitin-sethi-4680429.html&quot;&gt;click here&lt;/a&gt; to access the part-2 of the series.&amp;nbsp; 
&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;div align=&quot;justify&quot;&gt;
&amp;nbsp;
&lt;/div&gt;&#039;,
		&#039;credit_writer&#039; =&gt; &#039;Business Standard, 24 October, 2016, http://www.business-standard.com/article/current-affairs/how-govt-used-whatsapp-to-curtail-work-given-under-mnrega-116102400673_1.html#.WA4J0Ylsn3U.twitter&#039;,
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	&#039;articleid&#039; =&gt; (int) 32346,
	&#039;metaTitle&#039; =&gt; &#039;LATEST NEWS UPDATES | How govt used WhatsApp to curtail work given under MNREGA -Nitin Sethi&#039;,
	&#039;metaKeywords&#039; =&gt; &#039;WhatsApp,MGNREGS,mgnrega,NREGS,NREGA,drought,Job Creation,Demand for Work&#039;,
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-Business Standard

Read Part I of the series: The Centre used an off-the-record WhatsApp group to instruct states to check spending and work for rural poor under MNREGA

New Delhi: Noticing a steep rise in demand for work under MNREGA in the...&#039;,
	&#039;disp&#039; =&gt; &#039;&lt;div align=&quot;justify&quot;&gt;-Business Standard&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;em&gt;Read Part I of the series: The Centre used an off-the-record WhatsApp group to instruct states to check spending and work for rural poor under MNREGA&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;New Delhi: &lt;/em&gt;Noticing a steep rise in demand for work under MNREGA in the drought year, the rural development ministry used an off-record WhatsApp chat group and told states to desist from generating more work for the poor under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee programme in August, the ministry told the state officials that the &#039;mad race&#039; for generating work under MNREGA could not continue. It warned that more funds would not be made available soon and states had to &#039;plan&#039; more &#039;judiciously&#039; with the money they had already received. &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The instructions ran contrary to the provisions of the MNREG Act, which makes it mandatory for the government to provide as much funds as are required for the work demanded by the rural poor and not curtail work to fit its budgetary decisions. But, on the WhatsApp group the NDA government told the states that the idea that MNREGA was demand driven &#039;did not cut much ice anymore&#039;. &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Faced with this informally imposed moratorium on funds, many states repeatedly pleaded the rural development ministry on the WhatsApp group for immediate release of monies to pay hundreds of crores of already piled up arrears to the poor for the work that had been completed. But faced with the Centre&amp;rsquo;s off-record instructions, the work states provided to the rural poor in August and September came crashing down. In July 30, million extra persondays of work was given as compared to what Centre had initially approved. In September, the work provided was 54.48 million persondays less than what was initially approved for the month. This, when the budgeted work for September had anyway been kept substantially lower than that for July, adjusting for the usual lower demand in monsoon period.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Business Standard reviewed the WhatsApp chat group named ENCORE or &#039;Enabling Communication on Rural Employment&#039; by the rural development ministry.&amp;nbsp; It has all senior ministry officials and state level MNREGA officials as members, besides others. The ministry claimed, &amp;quot;It is simply a convenience for follow-up and reminders as also for showcasing good work by States through uploading of pictures.&amp;quot; &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;But instructions from the Union rural development ministry to the state officials on the WhatsApp group shows that the chat was also used as an off-record avenue for the Union government to pass instructions that it could not have done through formal channels, keeping the law in mind. &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;On August 14, the rural development ministry&amp;rsquo;s joint secretary in-charge of MNREGA told the states, &amp;quot;We ought to desist from campaigns for enlisting demand and indulging in the mad race of more and more personday generation (generating of wages). While the Act (MNREG Act) does not distinguish between APL and BPL (those above and below poverty line) and vulnerable/non-vulnerable, we have to &#039;intelligently&#039; communicate to the district/block/GP authorities to learn to target.&amp;quot;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;On August 28 the rural development ministry official told the states, &amp;quot;To resort to the logic that it is a demand-driven programme and whatever is asked for will be given, does not cut much ice now. This has been voiced in the Honourable Supreme Court too. There has to be a pragmatic handling of funds&amp;quot;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The officer added, &amp;quot;Our demands cannot be unlimited for the simple reason that the resources are limited-both of the Centre and the states. The Ministry had emphatically and clearly communicated during the previous fund release that we have to strategically plan out the spending till September, 2016.&amp;quot;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;In response to queries from Business Standard, the rural development ministry said, &amp;quot;The Ministry is committed to implement the MGNREG Act in letter and spirit.&amp;quot;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;It added, &amp;quot;While work on demand is being made available as reflected in the very high persondays generation especially during periods of drought and distress, a demand based programme also requires proper record keeping, financial management and full transparency and accountability.&amp;quot; &amp;nbsp;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Other states pleading for funds on WhatsApp:&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Jammu and Kashmir &amp;mdash; &amp;quot;Our state is in dire need of funds. Only Rs 2.4 crore in SEGF (state&amp;rsquo;s MNREGA) account. Please consider our proposal for release of 2nd instalment&amp;hellip;We require immediate funds for engaging the rural masses.&amp;quot; &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Jharkhand &amp;mdash; &amp;quot;Request to release central share too as we don&amp;rsquo;t have any funds too.&amp;quot;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Mizoram &amp;mdash; &amp;quot;Mizoram is eagerly waiting for fund release as we have received only Rs 19 crore in the current financial year.&amp;quot;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Bihar &amp;mdash; &amp;quot;Allocation of Rs 235 crore in SEGF for material and admin exhausted and despite our efforts for reconciliation the fund are yet to be released. We need your support to get the release so that material intensive works can be taken up.&amp;quot;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div align=&quot;justify&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div align=&quot;justify&quot;&gt;Please &lt;a href=&quot;https://im4change.in/latest-news-updates/massive-slump-in-mnrega-work-after-centre039s-unofficial-instructions-nitin-sethi-4680429.html&quot; title=&quot;https://im4change.in/latest-news-updates/massive-slump-in-mnrega-work-after-centre039s-unofficial-instructions-nitin-sethi-4680429.html&quot;&gt;click here&lt;/a&gt; to access the part-2 of the series.&amp;nbsp; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div align=&quot;justify&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/div&gt;&#039;,
	&#039;lang&#039; =&gt; &#039;English&#039;,
	&#039;SITE_URL&#039; =&gt; &#039;https://im4change.in/&#039;,
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	&#039;id&#039; =&gt; (int) 32346,
	&#039;title&#039; =&gt; &#039;How govt used WhatsApp to curtail work given under MNREGA -Nitin Sethi&#039;,
	&#039;subheading&#039; =&gt; &#039;&#039;,
	&#039;description&#039; =&gt; &#039;&lt;div align=&quot;justify&quot;&gt;
-Business Standard&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;em&gt;Read Part I of the series: The Centre used an off-the-record WhatsApp group to instruct states to check spending and work for rural poor under MNREGA&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
New Delhi: &lt;/em&gt;Noticing a steep rise in demand for work under MNREGA in the drought year, the rural development ministry used an off-record WhatsApp chat group and told states to desist from generating more work for the poor under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee programme in August, the ministry told the state officials that the &#039;mad race&#039; for generating work under MNREGA could not continue. It warned that more funds would not be made available soon and states had to &#039;plan&#039; more &#039;judiciously&#039; with the money they had already received. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The instructions ran contrary to the provisions of the MNREG Act, which makes it mandatory for the government to provide as much funds as are required for the work demanded by the rural poor and not curtail work to fit its budgetary decisions. But, on the WhatsApp group the NDA government told the states that the idea that MNREGA was demand driven &#039;did not cut much ice anymore&#039;. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Faced with this informally imposed moratorium on funds, many states repeatedly pleaded the rural development ministry on the WhatsApp group for immediate release of monies to pay hundreds of crores of already piled up arrears to the poor for the work that had been completed. But faced with the Centre&amp;rsquo;s off-record instructions, the work states provided to the rural poor in August and September came crashing down. In July 30, million extra persondays of work was given as compared to what Centre had initially approved. In September, the work provided was 54.48 million persondays less than what was initially approved for the month. This, when the budgeted work for September had anyway been kept substantially lower than that for July, adjusting for the usual lower demand in monsoon period.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Business Standard reviewed the WhatsApp chat group named ENCORE or &#039;Enabling Communication on Rural Employment&#039; by the rural development ministry.&amp;nbsp; It has all senior ministry officials and state level MNREGA officials as members, besides others. The ministry claimed, &amp;quot;It is simply a convenience for follow-up and reminders as also for showcasing good work by States through uploading of pictures.&amp;quot; &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
But instructions from the Union rural development ministry to the state officials on the WhatsApp group shows that the chat was also used as an off-record avenue for the Union government to pass instructions that it could not have done through formal channels, keeping the law in mind. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
On August 14, the rural development ministry&amp;rsquo;s joint secretary in-charge of MNREGA told the states, &amp;quot;We ought to desist from campaigns for enlisting demand and indulging in the mad race of more and more personday generation (generating of wages). While the Act (MNREG Act) does not distinguish between APL and BPL (those above and below poverty line) and vulnerable/non-vulnerable, we have to &#039;intelligently&#039; communicate to the district/block/GP authorities to learn to target.&amp;quot;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
On August 28 the rural development ministry official told the states, &amp;quot;To resort to the logic that it is a demand-driven programme and whatever is asked for will be given, does not cut much ice now. This has been voiced in the Honourable Supreme Court too. There has to be a pragmatic handling of funds&amp;quot;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The officer added, &amp;quot;Our demands cannot be unlimited for the simple reason that the resources are limited-both of the Centre and the states. The Ministry had emphatically and clearly communicated during the previous fund release that we have to strategically plan out the spending till September, 2016.&amp;quot;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
In response to queries from Business Standard, the rural development ministry said, &amp;quot;The Ministry is committed to implement the MGNREG Act in letter and spirit.&amp;quot;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
It added, &amp;quot;While work on demand is being made available as reflected in the very high persondays generation especially during periods of drought and distress, a demand based programme also requires proper record keeping, financial management and full transparency and accountability.&amp;quot; &amp;nbsp;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;strong&gt;Other states pleading for funds on WhatsApp:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
Jammu and Kashmir &amp;mdash; &amp;quot;Our state is in dire need of funds. Only Rs 2.4 crore in SEGF (state&amp;rsquo;s MNREGA) account. Please consider our proposal for release of 2nd instalment&amp;hellip;We require immediate funds for engaging the rural masses.&amp;quot; &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Jharkhand &amp;mdash; &amp;quot;Request to release central share too as we don&amp;rsquo;t have any funds too.&amp;quot;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Mizoram &amp;mdash; &amp;quot;Mizoram is eagerly waiting for fund release as we have received only Rs 19 crore in the current financial year.&amp;quot;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Bihar &amp;mdash; &amp;quot;Allocation of Rs 235 crore in SEGF for material and admin exhausted and despite our efforts for reconciliation the fund are yet to be released. We need your support to get the release so that material intensive works can be taken up.&amp;quot;
&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;div align=&quot;justify&quot;&gt;
&amp;nbsp;
&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;div align=&quot;justify&quot;&gt;
Please &lt;a href=&quot;../latest-news-updates/massive-slump-in-mnrega-work-after-centre039s-unofficial-instructions-nitin-sethi-4680429.html&quot;&gt;click here&lt;/a&gt; to access the part-2 of the series.&amp;nbsp; 
&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;div align=&quot;justify&quot;&gt;
&amp;nbsp;
&lt;/div&gt;&#039;,
	&#039;credit_writer&#039; =&gt; &#039;Business Standard, 24 October, 2016, http://www.business-standard.com/article/current-affairs/how-govt-used-whatsapp-to-curtail-work-given-under-mnrega-116102400673_1.html#.WA4J0Ylsn3U.twitter&#039;,
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-Business Standard

Read Part I of the series: The Centre used an off-the-record WhatsApp group to instruct states to check spending and work for rural poor under MNREGA

New Delhi: Noticing a steep rise in demand for work under MNREGA in the...&#039;
$disp = &#039;&lt;div align=&quot;justify&quot;&gt;-Business Standard&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;em&gt;Read Part I of the series: The Centre used an off-the-record WhatsApp group to instruct states to check spending and work for rural poor under MNREGA&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;New Delhi: &lt;/em&gt;Noticing a steep rise in demand for work under MNREGA in the drought year, the rural development ministry used an off-record WhatsApp chat group and told states to desist from generating more work for the poor under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee programme in August, the ministry told the state officials that the &#039;mad race&#039; for generating work under MNREGA could not continue. It warned that more funds would not be made available soon and states had to &#039;plan&#039; more &#039;judiciously&#039; with the money they had already received. &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The instructions ran contrary to the provisions of the MNREG Act, which makes it mandatory for the government to provide as much funds as are required for the work demanded by the rural poor and not curtail work to fit its budgetary decisions. But, on the WhatsApp group the NDA government told the states that the idea that MNREGA was demand driven &#039;did not cut much ice anymore&#039;. &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Faced with this informally imposed moratorium on funds, many states repeatedly pleaded the rural development ministry on the WhatsApp group for immediate release of monies to pay hundreds of crores of already piled up arrears to the poor for the work that had been completed. But faced with the Centre&amp;rsquo;s off-record instructions, the work states provided to the rural poor in August and September came crashing down. In July 30, million extra persondays of work was given as compared to what Centre had initially approved. In September, the work provided was 54.48 million persondays less than what was initially approved for the month. This, when the budgeted work for September had anyway been kept substantially lower than that for July, adjusting for the usual lower demand in monsoon period.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Business Standard reviewed the WhatsApp chat group named ENCORE or &#039;Enabling Communication on Rural Employment&#039; by the rural development ministry.&amp;nbsp; It has all senior ministry officials and state level MNREGA officials as members, besides others. The ministry claimed, &amp;quot;It is simply a convenience for follow-up and reminders as also for showcasing good work by States through uploading of pictures.&amp;quot; &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;But instructions from the Union rural development ministry to the state officials on the WhatsApp group shows that the chat was also used as an off-record avenue for the Union government to pass instructions that it could not have done through formal channels, keeping the law in mind. &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;On August 14, the rural development ministry&amp;rsquo;s joint secretary in-charge of MNREGA told the states, &amp;quot;We ought to desist from campaigns for enlisting demand and indulging in the mad race of more and more personday generation (generating of wages). While the Act (MNREG Act) does not distinguish between APL and BPL (those above and below poverty line) and vulnerable/non-vulnerable, we have to &#039;intelligently&#039; communicate to the district/block/GP authorities to learn to target.&amp;quot;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;On August 28 the rural development ministry official told the states, &amp;quot;To resort to the logic that it is a demand-driven programme and whatever is asked for will be given, does not cut much ice now. This has been voiced in the Honourable Supreme Court too. There has to be a pragmatic handling of funds&amp;quot;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The officer added, &amp;quot;Our demands cannot be unlimited for the simple reason that the resources are limited-both of the Centre and the states. The Ministry had emphatically and clearly communicated during the previous fund release that we have to strategically plan out the spending till September, 2016.&amp;quot;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;In response to queries from Business Standard, the rural development ministry said, &amp;quot;The Ministry is committed to implement the MGNREG Act in letter and spirit.&amp;quot;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;It added, &amp;quot;While work on demand is being made available as reflected in the very high persondays generation especially during periods of drought and distress, a demand based programme also requires proper record keeping, financial management and full transparency and accountability.&amp;quot; &amp;nbsp;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Other states pleading for funds on WhatsApp:&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Jammu and Kashmir &amp;mdash; &amp;quot;Our state is in dire need of funds. Only Rs 2.4 crore in SEGF (state&amp;rsquo;s MNREGA) account. Please consider our proposal for release of 2nd instalment&amp;hellip;We require immediate funds for engaging the rural masses.&amp;quot; &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Jharkhand &amp;mdash; &amp;quot;Request to release central share too as we don&amp;rsquo;t have any funds too.&amp;quot;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Mizoram &amp;mdash; &amp;quot;Mizoram is eagerly waiting for fund release as we have received only Rs 19 crore in the current financial year.&amp;quot;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Bihar &amp;mdash; &amp;quot;Allocation of Rs 235 crore in SEGF for material and admin exhausted and despite our efforts for reconciliation the fund are yet to be released. We need your support to get the release so that material intensive works can be taken up.&amp;quot;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div align=&quot;justify&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div align=&quot;justify&quot;&gt;Please &lt;a href=&quot;https://im4change.in/latest-news-updates/massive-slump-in-mnrega-work-after-centre039s-unofficial-instructions-nitin-sethi-4680429.html&quot; title=&quot;https://im4change.in/latest-news-updates/massive-slump-in-mnrega-work-after-centre039s-unofficial-instructions-nitin-sethi-4680429.html&quot;&gt;click here&lt;/a&gt; to access the part-2 of the series.&amp;nbsp; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div align=&quot;justify&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/div&gt;&#039;
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                <strong>How govt used WhatsApp to curtail work given under MNREGA -Nitin Sethi</strong></h1>
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                <div align="justify">-Business Standard<br /><br /><em>Read Part I of the series: The Centre used an off-the-record WhatsApp group to instruct states to check spending and work for rural poor under MNREGA<br /><br />New Delhi: </em>Noticing a steep rise in demand for work under MNREGA in the drought year, the rural development ministry used an off-record WhatsApp chat group and told states to desist from generating more work for the poor under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee programme in August, the ministry told the state officials that the 'mad race' for generating work under MNREGA could not continue. It warned that more funds would not be made available soon and states had to 'plan' more 'judiciously' with the money they had already received. <br /><br />The instructions ran contrary to the provisions of the MNREG Act, which makes it mandatory for the government to provide as much funds as are required for the work demanded by the rural poor and not curtail work to fit its budgetary decisions. But, on the WhatsApp group the NDA government told the states that the idea that MNREGA was demand driven 'did not cut much ice anymore'. <br /><br />Faced with this informally imposed moratorium on funds, many states repeatedly pleaded the rural development ministry on the WhatsApp group for immediate release of monies to pay hundreds of crores of already piled up arrears to the poor for the work that had been completed. But faced with the Centre&rsquo;s off-record instructions, the work states provided to the rural poor in August and September came crashing down. In July 30, million extra persondays of work was given as compared to what Centre had initially approved. In September, the work provided was 54.48 million persondays less than what was initially approved for the month. This, when the budgeted work for September had anyway been kept substantially lower than that for July, adjusting for the usual lower demand in monsoon period.<br /><br />Business Standard reviewed the WhatsApp chat group named ENCORE or 'Enabling Communication on Rural Employment' by the rural development ministry.&nbsp; It has all senior ministry officials and state level MNREGA officials as members, besides others. The ministry claimed, &quot;It is simply a convenience for follow-up and reminders as also for showcasing good work by States through uploading of pictures.&quot; <br /><br />But instructions from the Union rural development ministry to the state officials on the WhatsApp group shows that the chat was also used as an off-record avenue for the Union government to pass instructions that it could not have done through formal channels, keeping the law in mind. <br /><br />On August 14, the rural development ministry&rsquo;s joint secretary in-charge of MNREGA told the states, &quot;We ought to desist from campaigns for enlisting demand and indulging in the mad race of more and more personday generation (generating of wages). While the Act (MNREG Act) does not distinguish between APL and BPL (those above and below poverty line) and vulnerable/non-vulnerable, we have to 'intelligently' communicate to the district/block/GP authorities to learn to target.&quot;<br /><br />On August 28 the rural development ministry official told the states, &quot;To resort to the logic that it is a demand-driven programme and whatever is asked for will be given, does not cut much ice now. This has been voiced in the Honourable Supreme Court too. There has to be a pragmatic handling of funds&quot;<br /><br />The officer added, &quot;Our demands cannot be unlimited for the simple reason that the resources are limited-both of the Centre and the states. The Ministry had emphatically and clearly communicated during the previous fund release that we have to strategically plan out the spending till September, 2016.&quot;<br /><br />In response to queries from Business Standard, the rural development ministry said, &quot;The Ministry is committed to implement the MGNREG Act in letter and spirit.&quot;<br /><br />It added, &quot;While work on demand is being made available as reflected in the very high persondays generation especially during periods of drought and distress, a demand based programme also requires proper record keeping, financial management and full transparency and accountability.&quot; &nbsp;<br /><br /><strong>Other states pleading for funds on WhatsApp:<br /></strong><br />Jammu and Kashmir &mdash; &quot;Our state is in dire need of funds. Only Rs 2.4 crore in SEGF (state&rsquo;s MNREGA) account. Please consider our proposal for release of 2nd instalment&hellip;We require immediate funds for engaging the rural masses.&quot; <br /><br />Jharkhand &mdash; &quot;Request to release central share too as we don&rsquo;t have any funds too.&quot;<br /><br />Mizoram &mdash; &quot;Mizoram is eagerly waiting for fund release as we have received only Rs 19 crore in the current financial year.&quot;<br /><br />Bihar &mdash; &quot;Allocation of Rs 235 crore in SEGF for material and admin exhausted and despite our efforts for reconciliation the fund are yet to be released. We need your support to get the release so that material intensive works can be taken up.&quot;</div><div align="justify">&nbsp;</div><div align="justify">Please <a href="https://im4change.in/latest-news-updates/massive-slump-in-mnrega-work-after-centre039s-unofficial-instructions-nitin-sethi-4680429.html" title="https://im4change.in/latest-news-updates/massive-slump-in-mnrega-work-after-centre039s-unofficial-instructions-nitin-sethi-4680429.html">click here</a> to access the part-2 of the series.&nbsp; </div><div align="justify">&nbsp;</div>               </font>
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-Business Standard&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;em&gt;Read Part I of the series: The Centre used an off-the-record WhatsApp group to instruct states to check spending and work for rural poor under MNREGA&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
New Delhi: &lt;/em&gt;Noticing a steep rise in demand for work under MNREGA in the drought year, the rural development ministry used an off-record WhatsApp chat group and told states to desist from generating more work for the poor under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee programme in August, the ministry told the state officials that the &#039;mad race&#039; for generating work under MNREGA could not continue. It warned that more funds would not be made available soon and states had to &#039;plan&#039; more &#039;judiciously&#039; with the money they had already received. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The instructions ran contrary to the provisions of the MNREG Act, which makes it mandatory for the government to provide as much funds as are required for the work demanded by the rural poor and not curtail work to fit its budgetary decisions. But, on the WhatsApp group the NDA government told the states that the idea that MNREGA was demand driven &#039;did not cut much ice anymore&#039;. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Faced with this informally imposed moratorium on funds, many states repeatedly pleaded the rural development ministry on the WhatsApp group for immediate release of monies to pay hundreds of crores of already piled up arrears to the poor for the work that had been completed. But faced with the Centre&amp;rsquo;s off-record instructions, the work states provided to the rural poor in August and September came crashing down. In July 30, million extra persondays of work was given as compared to what Centre had initially approved. In September, the work provided was 54.48 million persondays less than what was initially approved for the month. This, when the budgeted work for September had anyway been kept substantially lower than that for July, adjusting for the usual lower demand in monsoon period.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Business Standard reviewed the WhatsApp chat group named ENCORE or &#039;Enabling Communication on Rural Employment&#039; by the rural development ministry.&amp;nbsp; It has all senior ministry officials and state level MNREGA officials as members, besides others. The ministry claimed, &amp;quot;It is simply a convenience for follow-up and reminders as also for showcasing good work by States through uploading of pictures.&amp;quot; &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
But instructions from the Union rural development ministry to the state officials on the WhatsApp group shows that the chat was also used as an off-record avenue for the Union government to pass instructions that it could not have done through formal channels, keeping the law in mind. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
On August 14, the rural development ministry&amp;rsquo;s joint secretary in-charge of MNREGA told the states, &amp;quot;We ought to desist from campaigns for enlisting demand and indulging in the mad race of more and more personday generation (generating of wages). While the Act (MNREG Act) does not distinguish between APL and BPL (those above and below poverty line) and vulnerable/non-vulnerable, we have to &#039;intelligently&#039; communicate to the district/block/GP authorities to learn to target.&amp;quot;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
On August 28 the rural development ministry official told the states, &amp;quot;To resort to the logic that it is a demand-driven programme and whatever is asked for will be given, does not cut much ice now. This has been voiced in the Honourable Supreme Court too. There has to be a pragmatic handling of funds&amp;quot;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The officer added, &amp;quot;Our demands cannot be unlimited for the simple reason that the resources are limited-both of the Centre and the states. The Ministry had emphatically and clearly communicated during the previous fund release that we have to strategically plan out the spending till September, 2016.&amp;quot;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
In response to queries from Business Standard, the rural development ministry said, &amp;quot;The Ministry is committed to implement the MGNREG Act in letter and spirit.&amp;quot;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
It added, &amp;quot;While work on demand is being made available as reflected in the very high persondays generation especially during periods of drought and distress, a demand based programme also requires proper record keeping, financial management and full transparency and accountability.&amp;quot; &amp;nbsp;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;strong&gt;Other states pleading for funds on WhatsApp:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
Jammu and Kashmir &amp;mdash; &amp;quot;Our state is in dire need of funds. Only Rs 2.4 crore in SEGF (state&amp;rsquo;s MNREGA) account. Please consider our proposal for release of 2nd instalment&amp;hellip;We require immediate funds for engaging the rural masses.&amp;quot; &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Jharkhand &amp;mdash; &amp;quot;Request to release central share too as we don&amp;rsquo;t have any funds too.&amp;quot;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Mizoram &amp;mdash; &amp;quot;Mizoram is eagerly waiting for fund release as we have received only Rs 19 crore in the current financial year.&amp;quot;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Bihar &amp;mdash; &amp;quot;Allocation of Rs 235 crore in SEGF for material and admin exhausted and despite our efforts for reconciliation the fund are yet to be released. We need your support to get the release so that material intensive works can be taken up.&amp;quot;
&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;div align=&quot;justify&quot;&gt;
&amp;nbsp;
&lt;/div&gt;
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Please &lt;a href=&quot;../latest-news-updates/massive-slump-in-mnrega-work-after-centre039s-unofficial-instructions-nitin-sethi-4680429.html&quot;&gt;click here&lt;/a&gt; to access the part-2 of the series.&amp;nbsp; 
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-Business Standard

Read Part I of the series: The Centre used an off-the-record WhatsApp group to instruct states to check spending and work for rural poor under MNREGA

New Delhi: Noticing a steep rise in demand for work under MNREGA in the...&#039;,
	&#039;disp&#039; =&gt; &#039;&lt;div align=&quot;justify&quot;&gt;-Business Standard&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;em&gt;Read Part I of the series: The Centre used an off-the-record WhatsApp group to instruct states to check spending and work for rural poor under MNREGA&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;New Delhi: &lt;/em&gt;Noticing a steep rise in demand for work under MNREGA in the drought year, the rural development ministry used an off-record WhatsApp chat group and told states to desist from generating more work for the poor under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee programme in August, the ministry told the state officials that the &#039;mad race&#039; for generating work under MNREGA could not continue. It warned that more funds would not be made available soon and states had to &#039;plan&#039; more &#039;judiciously&#039; with the money they had already received. &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The instructions ran contrary to the provisions of the MNREG Act, which makes it mandatory for the government to provide as much funds as are required for the work demanded by the rural poor and not curtail work to fit its budgetary decisions. But, on the WhatsApp group the NDA government told the states that the idea that MNREGA was demand driven &#039;did not cut much ice anymore&#039;. &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Faced with this informally imposed moratorium on funds, many states repeatedly pleaded the rural development ministry on the WhatsApp group for immediate release of monies to pay hundreds of crores of already piled up arrears to the poor for the work that had been completed. But faced with the Centre&amp;rsquo;s off-record instructions, the work states provided to the rural poor in August and September came crashing down. In July 30, million extra persondays of work was given as compared to what Centre had initially approved. In September, the work provided was 54.48 million persondays less than what was initially approved for the month. This, when the budgeted work for September had anyway been kept substantially lower than that for July, adjusting for the usual lower demand in monsoon period.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Business Standard reviewed the WhatsApp chat group named ENCORE or &#039;Enabling Communication on Rural Employment&#039; by the rural development ministry.&amp;nbsp; It has all senior ministry officials and state level MNREGA officials as members, besides others. The ministry claimed, &amp;quot;It is simply a convenience for follow-up and reminders as also for showcasing good work by States through uploading of pictures.&amp;quot; &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;But instructions from the Union rural development ministry to the state officials on the WhatsApp group shows that the chat was also used as an off-record avenue for the Union government to pass instructions that it could not have done through formal channels, keeping the law in mind. &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;On August 14, the rural development ministry&amp;rsquo;s joint secretary in-charge of MNREGA told the states, &amp;quot;We ought to desist from campaigns for enlisting demand and indulging in the mad race of more and more personday generation (generating of wages). While the Act (MNREG Act) does not distinguish between APL and BPL (those above and below poverty line) and vulnerable/non-vulnerable, we have to &#039;intelligently&#039; communicate to the district/block/GP authorities to learn to target.&amp;quot;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;On August 28 the rural development ministry official told the states, &amp;quot;To resort to the logic that it is a demand-driven programme and whatever is asked for will be given, does not cut much ice now. This has been voiced in the Honourable Supreme Court too. There has to be a pragmatic handling of funds&amp;quot;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The officer added, &amp;quot;Our demands cannot be unlimited for the simple reason that the resources are limited-both of the Centre and the states. The Ministry had emphatically and clearly communicated during the previous fund release that we have to strategically plan out the spending till September, 2016.&amp;quot;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;In response to queries from Business Standard, the rural development ministry said, &amp;quot;The Ministry is committed to implement the MGNREG Act in letter and spirit.&amp;quot;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;It added, &amp;quot;While work on demand is being made available as reflected in the very high persondays generation especially during periods of drought and distress, a demand based programme also requires proper record keeping, financial management and full transparency and accountability.&amp;quot; &amp;nbsp;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Other states pleading for funds on WhatsApp:&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Jammu and Kashmir &amp;mdash; &amp;quot;Our state is in dire need of funds. Only Rs 2.4 crore in SEGF (state&amp;rsquo;s MNREGA) account. Please consider our proposal for release of 2nd instalment&amp;hellip;We require immediate funds for engaging the rural masses.&amp;quot; &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Jharkhand &amp;mdash; &amp;quot;Request to release central share too as we don&amp;rsquo;t have any funds too.&amp;quot;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Mizoram &amp;mdash; &amp;quot;Mizoram is eagerly waiting for fund release as we have received only Rs 19 crore in the current financial year.&amp;quot;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Bihar &amp;mdash; &amp;quot;Allocation of Rs 235 crore in SEGF for material and admin exhausted and despite our efforts for reconciliation the fund are yet to be released. We need your support to get the release so that material intensive works can be taken up.&amp;quot;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div align=&quot;justify&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div align=&quot;justify&quot;&gt;Please &lt;a href=&quot;https://im4change.in/latest-news-updates/massive-slump-in-mnrega-work-after-centre039s-unofficial-instructions-nitin-sethi-4680429.html&quot; title=&quot;https://im4change.in/latest-news-updates/massive-slump-in-mnrega-work-after-centre039s-unofficial-instructions-nitin-sethi-4680429.html&quot;&gt;click here&lt;/a&gt; to access the part-2 of the series.&amp;nbsp; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div align=&quot;justify&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/div&gt;&#039;,
	&#039;lang&#039; =&gt; &#039;English&#039;,
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	&#039;title&#039; =&gt; &#039;How govt used WhatsApp to curtail work given under MNREGA -Nitin Sethi&#039;,
	&#039;subheading&#039; =&gt; &#039;&#039;,
	&#039;description&#039; =&gt; &#039;&lt;div align=&quot;justify&quot;&gt;
-Business Standard&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;em&gt;Read Part I of the series: The Centre used an off-the-record WhatsApp group to instruct states to check spending and work for rural poor under MNREGA&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
New Delhi: &lt;/em&gt;Noticing a steep rise in demand for work under MNREGA in the drought year, the rural development ministry used an off-record WhatsApp chat group and told states to desist from generating more work for the poor under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee programme in August, the ministry told the state officials that the &#039;mad race&#039; for generating work under MNREGA could not continue. It warned that more funds would not be made available soon and states had to &#039;plan&#039; more &#039;judiciously&#039; with the money they had already received. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The instructions ran contrary to the provisions of the MNREG Act, which makes it mandatory for the government to provide as much funds as are required for the work demanded by the rural poor and not curtail work to fit its budgetary decisions. But, on the WhatsApp group the NDA government told the states that the idea that MNREGA was demand driven &#039;did not cut much ice anymore&#039;. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Faced with this informally imposed moratorium on funds, many states repeatedly pleaded the rural development ministry on the WhatsApp group for immediate release of monies to pay hundreds of crores of already piled up arrears to the poor for the work that had been completed. But faced with the Centre&amp;rsquo;s off-record instructions, the work states provided to the rural poor in August and September came crashing down. In July 30, million extra persondays of work was given as compared to what Centre had initially approved. In September, the work provided was 54.48 million persondays less than what was initially approved for the month. This, when the budgeted work for September had anyway been kept substantially lower than that for July, adjusting for the usual lower demand in monsoon period.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Business Standard reviewed the WhatsApp chat group named ENCORE or &#039;Enabling Communication on Rural Employment&#039; by the rural development ministry.&amp;nbsp; It has all senior ministry officials and state level MNREGA officials as members, besides others. The ministry claimed, &amp;quot;It is simply a convenience for follow-up and reminders as also for showcasing good work by States through uploading of pictures.&amp;quot; &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
But instructions from the Union rural development ministry to the state officials on the WhatsApp group shows that the chat was also used as an off-record avenue for the Union government to pass instructions that it could not have done through formal channels, keeping the law in mind. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
On August 14, the rural development ministry&amp;rsquo;s joint secretary in-charge of MNREGA told the states, &amp;quot;We ought to desist from campaigns for enlisting demand and indulging in the mad race of more and more personday generation (generating of wages). While the Act (MNREG Act) does not distinguish between APL and BPL (those above and below poverty line) and vulnerable/non-vulnerable, we have to &#039;intelligently&#039; communicate to the district/block/GP authorities to learn to target.&amp;quot;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
On August 28 the rural development ministry official told the states, &amp;quot;To resort to the logic that it is a demand-driven programme and whatever is asked for will be given, does not cut much ice now. This has been voiced in the Honourable Supreme Court too. There has to be a pragmatic handling of funds&amp;quot;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The officer added, &amp;quot;Our demands cannot be unlimited for the simple reason that the resources are limited-both of the Centre and the states. The Ministry had emphatically and clearly communicated during the previous fund release that we have to strategically plan out the spending till September, 2016.&amp;quot;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
In response to queries from Business Standard, the rural development ministry said, &amp;quot;The Ministry is committed to implement the MGNREG Act in letter and spirit.&amp;quot;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
It added, &amp;quot;While work on demand is being made available as reflected in the very high persondays generation especially during periods of drought and distress, a demand based programme also requires proper record keeping, financial management and full transparency and accountability.&amp;quot; &amp;nbsp;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;strong&gt;Other states pleading for funds on WhatsApp:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
Jammu and Kashmir &amp;mdash; &amp;quot;Our state is in dire need of funds. Only Rs 2.4 crore in SEGF (state&amp;rsquo;s MNREGA) account. Please consider our proposal for release of 2nd instalment&amp;hellip;We require immediate funds for engaging the rural masses.&amp;quot; &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Jharkhand &amp;mdash; &amp;quot;Request to release central share too as we don&amp;rsquo;t have any funds too.&amp;quot;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Mizoram &amp;mdash; &amp;quot;Mizoram is eagerly waiting for fund release as we have received only Rs 19 crore in the current financial year.&amp;quot;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Bihar &amp;mdash; &amp;quot;Allocation of Rs 235 crore in SEGF for material and admin exhausted and despite our efforts for reconciliation the fund are yet to be released. We need your support to get the release so that material intensive works can be taken up.&amp;quot;
&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;div align=&quot;justify&quot;&gt;
&amp;nbsp;
&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;div align=&quot;justify&quot;&gt;
Please &lt;a href=&quot;../latest-news-updates/massive-slump-in-mnrega-work-after-centre039s-unofficial-instructions-nitin-sethi-4680429.html&quot;&gt;click here&lt;/a&gt; to access the part-2 of the series.&amp;nbsp; 
&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;div align=&quot;justify&quot;&gt;
&amp;nbsp;
&lt;/div&gt;&#039;,
	&#039;credit_writer&#039; =&gt; &#039;Business Standard, 24 October, 2016, http://www.business-standard.com/article/current-affairs/how-govt-used-whatsapp-to-curtail-work-given-under-mnrega-116102400673_1.html#.WA4J0Ylsn3U.twitter&#039;,
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-Business Standard

Read Part I of the series: The Centre used an off-the-record WhatsApp group to instruct states to check spending and work for rural poor under MNREGA

New Delhi: Noticing a steep rise in demand for work under MNREGA in the...&#039;
$disp = &#039;&lt;div align=&quot;justify&quot;&gt;-Business Standard&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;em&gt;Read Part I of the series: The Centre used an off-the-record WhatsApp group to instruct states to check spending and work for rural poor under MNREGA&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;New Delhi: &lt;/em&gt;Noticing a steep rise in demand for work under MNREGA in the drought year, the rural development ministry used an off-record WhatsApp chat group and told states to desist from generating more work for the poor under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee programme in August, the ministry told the state officials that the &#039;mad race&#039; for generating work under MNREGA could not continue. It warned that more funds would not be made available soon and states had to &#039;plan&#039; more &#039;judiciously&#039; with the money they had already received. &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The instructions ran contrary to the provisions of the MNREG Act, which makes it mandatory for the government to provide as much funds as are required for the work demanded by the rural poor and not curtail work to fit its budgetary decisions. But, on the WhatsApp group the NDA government told the states that the idea that MNREGA was demand driven &#039;did not cut much ice anymore&#039;. &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Faced with this informally imposed moratorium on funds, many states repeatedly pleaded the rural development ministry on the WhatsApp group for immediate release of monies to pay hundreds of crores of already piled up arrears to the poor for the work that had been completed. But faced with the Centre&amp;rsquo;s off-record instructions, the work states provided to the rural poor in August and September came crashing down. In July 30, million extra persondays of work was given as compared to what Centre had initially approved. In September, the work provided was 54.48 million persondays less than what was initially approved for the month. This, when the budgeted work for September had anyway been kept substantially lower than that for July, adjusting for the usual lower demand in monsoon period.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Business Standard reviewed the WhatsApp chat group named ENCORE or &#039;Enabling Communication on Rural Employment&#039; by the rural development ministry.&amp;nbsp; It has all senior ministry officials and state level MNREGA officials as members, besides others. The ministry claimed, &amp;quot;It is simply a convenience for follow-up and reminders as also for showcasing good work by States through uploading of pictures.&amp;quot; &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;But instructions from the Union rural development ministry to the state officials on the WhatsApp group shows that the chat was also used as an off-record avenue for the Union government to pass instructions that it could not have done through formal channels, keeping the law in mind. &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;On August 14, the rural development ministry&amp;rsquo;s joint secretary in-charge of MNREGA told the states, &amp;quot;We ought to desist from campaigns for enlisting demand and indulging in the mad race of more and more personday generation (generating of wages). While the Act (MNREG Act) does not distinguish between APL and BPL (those above and below poverty line) and vulnerable/non-vulnerable, we have to &#039;intelligently&#039; communicate to the district/block/GP authorities to learn to target.&amp;quot;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;On August 28 the rural development ministry official told the states, &amp;quot;To resort to the logic that it is a demand-driven programme and whatever is asked for will be given, does not cut much ice now. This has been voiced in the Honourable Supreme Court too. There has to be a pragmatic handling of funds&amp;quot;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The officer added, &amp;quot;Our demands cannot be unlimited for the simple reason that the resources are limited-both of the Centre and the states. The Ministry had emphatically and clearly communicated during the previous fund release that we have to strategically plan out the spending till September, 2016.&amp;quot;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;In response to queries from Business Standard, the rural development ministry said, &amp;quot;The Ministry is committed to implement the MGNREG Act in letter and spirit.&amp;quot;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;It added, &amp;quot;While work on demand is being made available as reflected in the very high persondays generation especially during periods of drought and distress, a demand based programme also requires proper record keeping, financial management and full transparency and accountability.&amp;quot; &amp;nbsp;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Other states pleading for funds on WhatsApp:&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Jammu and Kashmir &amp;mdash; &amp;quot;Our state is in dire need of funds. Only Rs 2.4 crore in SEGF (state&amp;rsquo;s MNREGA) account. Please consider our proposal for release of 2nd instalment&amp;hellip;We require immediate funds for engaging the rural masses.&amp;quot; &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Jharkhand &amp;mdash; &amp;quot;Request to release central share too as we don&amp;rsquo;t have any funds too.&amp;quot;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Mizoram &amp;mdash; &amp;quot;Mizoram is eagerly waiting for fund release as we have received only Rs 19 crore in the current financial year.&amp;quot;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Bihar &amp;mdash; &amp;quot;Allocation of Rs 235 crore in SEGF for material and admin exhausted and despite our efforts for reconciliation the fund are yet to be released. We need your support to get the release so that material intensive works can be taken up.&amp;quot;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div align=&quot;justify&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div align=&quot;justify&quot;&gt;Please &lt;a href=&quot;https://im4change.in/latest-news-updates/massive-slump-in-mnrega-work-after-centre039s-unofficial-instructions-nitin-sethi-4680429.html&quot; title=&quot;https://im4change.in/latest-news-updates/massive-slump-in-mnrega-work-after-centre039s-unofficial-instructions-nitin-sethi-4680429.html&quot;&gt;click here&lt;/a&gt; to access the part-2 of the series.&amp;nbsp; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div align=&quot;justify&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/div&gt;&#039;
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Read Part I of the series: The Centre used an off-the-record WhatsApp group to instruct states to check spending and work for rural poor under MNREGA

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                <strong>How govt used WhatsApp to curtail work given under MNREGA -Nitin Sethi</strong></h1>
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                <div align="justify">-Business Standard<br /><br /><em>Read Part I of the series: The Centre used an off-the-record WhatsApp group to instruct states to check spending and work for rural poor under MNREGA<br /><br />New Delhi: </em>Noticing a steep rise in demand for work under MNREGA in the drought year, the rural development ministry used an off-record WhatsApp chat group and told states to desist from generating more work for the poor under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee programme in August, the ministry told the state officials that the 'mad race' for generating work under MNREGA could not continue. It warned that more funds would not be made available soon and states had to 'plan' more 'judiciously' with the money they had already received. <br /><br />The instructions ran contrary to the provisions of the MNREG Act, which makes it mandatory for the government to provide as much funds as are required for the work demanded by the rural poor and not curtail work to fit its budgetary decisions. But, on the WhatsApp group the NDA government told the states that the idea that MNREGA was demand driven 'did not cut much ice anymore'. <br /><br />Faced with this informally imposed moratorium on funds, many states repeatedly pleaded the rural development ministry on the WhatsApp group for immediate release of monies to pay hundreds of crores of already piled up arrears to the poor for the work that had been completed. But faced with the Centre&rsquo;s off-record instructions, the work states provided to the rural poor in August and September came crashing down. In July 30, million extra persondays of work was given as compared to what Centre had initially approved. In September, the work provided was 54.48 million persondays less than what was initially approved for the month. This, when the budgeted work for September had anyway been kept substantially lower than that for July, adjusting for the usual lower demand in monsoon period.<br /><br />Business Standard reviewed the WhatsApp chat group named ENCORE or 'Enabling Communication on Rural Employment' by the rural development ministry.&nbsp; It has all senior ministry officials and state level MNREGA officials as members, besides others. The ministry claimed, &quot;It is simply a convenience for follow-up and reminders as also for showcasing good work by States through uploading of pictures.&quot; <br /><br />But instructions from the Union rural development ministry to the state officials on the WhatsApp group shows that the chat was also used as an off-record avenue for the Union government to pass instructions that it could not have done through formal channels, keeping the law in mind. <br /><br />On August 14, the rural development ministry&rsquo;s joint secretary in-charge of MNREGA told the states, &quot;We ought to desist from campaigns for enlisting demand and indulging in the mad race of more and more personday generation (generating of wages). While the Act (MNREG Act) does not distinguish between APL and BPL (those above and below poverty line) and vulnerable/non-vulnerable, we have to 'intelligently' communicate to the district/block/GP authorities to learn to target.&quot;<br /><br />On August 28 the rural development ministry official told the states, &quot;To resort to the logic that it is a demand-driven programme and whatever is asked for will be given, does not cut much ice now. This has been voiced in the Honourable Supreme Court too. There has to be a pragmatic handling of funds&quot;<br /><br />The officer added, &quot;Our demands cannot be unlimited for the simple reason that the resources are limited-both of the Centre and the states. The Ministry had emphatically and clearly communicated during the previous fund release that we have to strategically plan out the spending till September, 2016.&quot;<br /><br />In response to queries from Business Standard, the rural development ministry said, &quot;The Ministry is committed to implement the MGNREG Act in letter and spirit.&quot;<br /><br />It added, &quot;While work on demand is being made available as reflected in the very high persondays generation especially during periods of drought and distress, a demand based programme also requires proper record keeping, financial management and full transparency and accountability.&quot; &nbsp;<br /><br /><strong>Other states pleading for funds on WhatsApp:<br /></strong><br />Jammu and Kashmir &mdash; &quot;Our state is in dire need of funds. Only Rs 2.4 crore in SEGF (state&rsquo;s MNREGA) account. Please consider our proposal for release of 2nd instalment&hellip;We require immediate funds for engaging the rural masses.&quot; <br /><br />Jharkhand &mdash; &quot;Request to release central share too as we don&rsquo;t have any funds too.&quot;<br /><br />Mizoram &mdash; &quot;Mizoram is eagerly waiting for fund release as we have received only Rs 19 crore in the current financial year.&quot;<br /><br />Bihar &mdash; &quot;Allocation of Rs 235 crore in SEGF for material and admin exhausted and despite our efforts for reconciliation the fund are yet to be released. We need your support to get the release so that material intensive works can be taken up.&quot;</div><div align="justify">&nbsp;</div><div align="justify">Please <a href="https://im4change.in/latest-news-updates/massive-slump-in-mnrega-work-after-centre039s-unofficial-instructions-nitin-sethi-4680429.html" title="https://im4change.in/latest-news-updates/massive-slump-in-mnrega-work-after-centre039s-unofficial-instructions-nitin-sethi-4680429.html">click here</a> to access the part-2 of the series.&nbsp; </div><div align="justify">&nbsp;</div>               </font>
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-Business Standard<br />
<br />
<em>Read Part I of the series: The Centre used an off-the-record WhatsApp group to instruct states to check spending and work for rural poor under MNREGA<br />
<br />
New Delhi: </em>Noticing a steep rise in demand for work under MNREGA in the drought year, the rural development ministry used an off-record WhatsApp chat group and told states to desist from generating more work for the poor under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee programme in August, the ministry told the state officials that the 'mad race' for generating work under MNREGA could not continue. It warned that more funds would not be made available soon and states had to 'plan' more 'judiciously' with the money they had already received. <br />
<br />
The instructions ran contrary to the provisions of the MNREG Act, which makes it mandatory for the government to provide as much funds as are required for the work demanded by the rural poor and not curtail work to fit its budgetary decisions. But, on the WhatsApp group the NDA government told the states that the idea that MNREGA was demand driven 'did not cut much ice anymore'. <br />
<br />
Faced with this informally imposed moratorium on funds, many states repeatedly pleaded the rural development ministry on the WhatsApp group for immediate release of monies to pay hundreds of crores of already piled up arrears to the poor for the work that had been completed. But faced with the Centre&rsquo;s off-record instructions, the work states provided to the rural poor in August and September came crashing down. In July 30, million extra persondays of work was given as compared to what Centre had initially approved. In September, the work provided was 54.48 million persondays less than what was initially approved for the month. This, when the budgeted work for September had anyway been kept substantially lower than that for July, adjusting for the usual lower demand in monsoon period.<br />
<br />
Business Standard reviewed the WhatsApp chat group named ENCORE or 'Enabling Communication on Rural Employment' by the rural development ministry.&nbsp; It has all senior ministry officials and state level MNREGA officials as members, besides others. The ministry claimed, &quot;It is simply a convenience for follow-up and reminders as also for showcasing good work by States through uploading of pictures.&quot; <br />
<br />
But instructions from the Union rural development ministry to the state officials on the WhatsApp group shows that the chat was also used as an off-record avenue for the Union government to pass instructions that it could not have done through formal channels, keeping the law in mind. <br />
<br />
On August 14, the rural development ministry&rsquo;s joint secretary in-charge of MNREGA told the states, &quot;We ought to desist from campaigns for enlisting demand and indulging in the mad race of more and more personday generation (generating of wages). While the Act (MNREG Act) does not distinguish between APL and BPL (those above and below poverty line) and vulnerable/non-vulnerable, we have to 'intelligently' communicate to the district/block/GP authorities to learn to target.&quot;<br />
<br />
On August 28 the rural development ministry official told the states, &quot;To resort to the logic that it is a demand-driven programme and whatever is asked for will be given, does not cut much ice now. This has been voiced in the Honourable Supreme Court too. There has to be a pragmatic handling of funds&quot;<br />
<br />
The officer added, &quot;Our demands cannot be unlimited for the simple reason that the resources are limited-both of the Centre and the states. The Ministry had emphatically and clearly communicated during the previous fund release that we have to strategically plan out the spending till September, 2016.&quot;<br />
<br />
In response to queries from Business Standard, the rural development ministry said, &quot;The Ministry is committed to implement the MGNREG Act in letter and spirit.&quot;<br />
<br />
It added, &quot;While work on demand is being made available as reflected in the very high persondays generation especially during periods of drought and distress, a demand based programme also requires proper record keeping, financial management and full transparency and accountability.&quot; &nbsp;<br />
<br />
<strong>Other states pleading for funds on WhatsApp:<br />
</strong><br />
Jammu and Kashmir &mdash; &quot;Our state is in dire need of funds. Only Rs 2.4 crore in SEGF (state&rsquo;s MNREGA) account. Please consider our proposal for release of 2nd instalment&hellip;We require immediate funds for engaging the rural masses.&quot; <br />
<br />
Jharkhand &mdash; &quot;Request to release central share too as we don&rsquo;t have any funds too.&quot;<br />
<br />
Mizoram &mdash; &quot;Mizoram is eagerly waiting for fund release as we have received only Rs 19 crore in the current financial year.&quot;<br />
<br />
Bihar &mdash; &quot;Allocation of Rs 235 crore in SEGF for material and admin exhausted and despite our efforts for reconciliation the fund are yet to be released. We need your support to get the release so that material intensive works can be taken up.&quot;
</div>
<div align="justify">
&nbsp;
</div>
<div align="justify">
Please <a href="../latest-news-updates/massive-slump-in-mnrega-work-after-centre039s-unofficial-instructions-nitin-sethi-4680429.html">click here</a> to access the part-2 of the series.&nbsp; 
</div>
<div align="justify">
&nbsp;
</div>',
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It warned that more funds would not be made available soon and states had to 'plan' more 'judiciously' with the money they had already received. <br /><br />The instructions ran contrary to the provisions of the MNREG Act, which makes it mandatory for the government to provide as much funds as are required for the work demanded by the rural poor and not curtail work to fit its budgetary decisions. But, on the WhatsApp group the NDA government told the states that the idea that MNREGA was demand driven 'did not cut much ice anymore'. <br /><br />Faced with this informally imposed moratorium on funds, many states repeatedly pleaded the rural development ministry on the WhatsApp group for immediate release of monies to pay hundreds of crores of already piled up arrears to the poor for the work that had been completed. But faced with the Centre&rsquo;s off-record instructions, the work states provided to the rural poor in August and September came crashing down. In July 30, million extra persondays of work was given as compared to what Centre had initially approved. In September, the work provided was 54.48 million persondays less than what was initially approved for the month. This, when the budgeted work for September had anyway been kept substantially lower than that for July, adjusting for the usual lower demand in monsoon period.<br /><br />Business Standard reviewed the WhatsApp chat group named ENCORE or 'Enabling Communication on Rural Employment' by the rural development ministry.&nbsp; It has all senior ministry officials and state level MNREGA officials as members, besides others. The ministry claimed, &quot;It is simply a convenience for follow-up and reminders as also for showcasing good work by States through uploading of pictures.&quot; <br /><br />But instructions from the Union rural development ministry to the state officials on the WhatsApp group shows that the chat was also used as an off-record avenue for the Union government to pass instructions that it could not have done through formal channels, keeping the law in mind. <br /><br />On August 14, the rural development ministry&rsquo;s joint secretary in-charge of MNREGA told the states, &quot;We ought to desist from campaigns for enlisting demand and indulging in the mad race of more and more personday generation (generating of wages). While the Act (MNREG Act) does not distinguish between APL and BPL (those above and below poverty line) and vulnerable/non-vulnerable, we have to 'intelligently' communicate to the district/block/GP authorities to learn to target.&quot;<br /><br />On August 28 the rural development ministry official told the states, &quot;To resort to the logic that it is a demand-driven programme and whatever is asked for will be given, does not cut much ice now. This has been voiced in the Honourable Supreme Court too. There has to be a pragmatic handling of funds&quot;<br /><br />The officer added, &quot;Our demands cannot be unlimited for the simple reason that the resources are limited-both of the Centre and the states. The Ministry had emphatically and clearly communicated during the previous fund release that we have to strategically plan out the spending till September, 2016.&quot;<br /><br />In response to queries from Business Standard, the rural development ministry said, &quot;The Ministry is committed to implement the MGNREG Act in letter and spirit.&quot;<br /><br />It added, &quot;While work on demand is being made available as reflected in the very high persondays generation especially during periods of drought and distress, a demand based programme also requires proper record keeping, financial management and full transparency and accountability.&quot; &nbsp;<br /><br /><strong>Other states pleading for funds on WhatsApp:<br /></strong><br />Jammu and Kashmir &mdash; &quot;Our state is in dire need of funds. Only Rs 2.4 crore in SEGF (state&rsquo;s MNREGA) account. Please consider our proposal for release of 2nd instalment&hellip;We require immediate funds for engaging the rural masses.&quot; <br /><br />Jharkhand &mdash; &quot;Request to release central share too as we don&rsquo;t have any funds too.&quot;<br /><br />Mizoram &mdash; &quot;Mizoram is eagerly waiting for fund release as we have received only Rs 19 crore in the current financial year.&quot;<br /><br />Bihar &mdash; &quot;Allocation of Rs 235 crore in SEGF for material and admin exhausted and despite our efforts for reconciliation the fund are yet to be released. We need your support to get the release so that material intensive works can be taken up.&quot;</div><div align="justify">&nbsp;</div><div align="justify">Please <a href="https://im4change.in/latest-news-updates/massive-slump-in-mnrega-work-after-centre039s-unofficial-instructions-nitin-sethi-4680429.html" title="https://im4change.in/latest-news-updates/massive-slump-in-mnrega-work-after-centre039s-unofficial-instructions-nitin-sethi-4680429.html">click here</a> to access the part-2 of the series.&nbsp; </div><div align="justify">&nbsp;</div>',
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	'title' => 'How govt used WhatsApp to curtail work given under MNREGA -Nitin Sethi',
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-Business Standard<br />
<br />
<em>Read Part I of the series: The Centre used an off-the-record WhatsApp group to instruct states to check spending and work for rural poor under MNREGA<br />
<br />
New Delhi: </em>Noticing a steep rise in demand for work under MNREGA in the drought year, the rural development ministry used an off-record WhatsApp chat group and told states to desist from generating more work for the poor under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee programme in August, the ministry told the state officials that the 'mad race' for generating work under MNREGA could not continue. It warned that more funds would not be made available soon and states had to 'plan' more 'judiciously' with the money they had already received. <br />
<br />
The instructions ran contrary to the provisions of the MNREG Act, which makes it mandatory for the government to provide as much funds as are required for the work demanded by the rural poor and not curtail work to fit its budgetary decisions. But, on the WhatsApp group the NDA government told the states that the idea that MNREGA was demand driven 'did not cut much ice anymore'. <br />
<br />
Faced with this informally imposed moratorium on funds, many states repeatedly pleaded the rural development ministry on the WhatsApp group for immediate release of monies to pay hundreds of crores of already piled up arrears to the poor for the work that had been completed. But faced with the Centre&rsquo;s off-record instructions, the work states provided to the rural poor in August and September came crashing down. In July 30, million extra persondays of work was given as compared to what Centre had initially approved. In September, the work provided was 54.48 million persondays less than what was initially approved for the month. This, when the budgeted work for September had anyway been kept substantially lower than that for July, adjusting for the usual lower demand in monsoon period.<br />
<br />
Business Standard reviewed the WhatsApp chat group named ENCORE or 'Enabling Communication on Rural Employment' by the rural development ministry.&nbsp; It has all senior ministry officials and state level MNREGA officials as members, besides others. The ministry claimed, &quot;It is simply a convenience for follow-up and reminders as also for showcasing good work by States through uploading of pictures.&quot; <br />
<br />
But instructions from the Union rural development ministry to the state officials on the WhatsApp group shows that the chat was also used as an off-record avenue for the Union government to pass instructions that it could not have done through formal channels, keeping the law in mind. <br />
<br />
On August 14, the rural development ministry&rsquo;s joint secretary in-charge of MNREGA told the states, &quot;We ought to desist from campaigns for enlisting demand and indulging in the mad race of more and more personday generation (generating of wages). While the Act (MNREG Act) does not distinguish between APL and BPL (those above and below poverty line) and vulnerable/non-vulnerable, we have to 'intelligently' communicate to the district/block/GP authorities to learn to target.&quot;<br />
<br />
On August 28 the rural development ministry official told the states, &quot;To resort to the logic that it is a demand-driven programme and whatever is asked for will be given, does not cut much ice now. This has been voiced in the Honourable Supreme Court too. There has to be a pragmatic handling of funds&quot;<br />
<br />
The officer added, &quot;Our demands cannot be unlimited for the simple reason that the resources are limited-both of the Centre and the states. The Ministry had emphatically and clearly communicated during the previous fund release that we have to strategically plan out the spending till September, 2016.&quot;<br />
<br />
In response to queries from Business Standard, the rural development ministry said, &quot;The Ministry is committed to implement the MGNREG Act in letter and spirit.&quot;<br />
<br />
It added, &quot;While work on demand is being made available as reflected in the very high persondays generation especially during periods of drought and distress, a demand based programme also requires proper record keeping, financial management and full transparency and accountability.&quot; &nbsp;<br />
<br />
<strong>Other states pleading for funds on WhatsApp:<br />
</strong><br />
Jammu and Kashmir &mdash; &quot;Our state is in dire need of funds. Only Rs 2.4 crore in SEGF (state&rsquo;s MNREGA) account. Please consider our proposal for release of 2nd instalment&hellip;We require immediate funds for engaging the rural masses.&quot; <br />
<br />
Jharkhand &mdash; &quot;Request to release central share too as we don&rsquo;t have any funds too.&quot;<br />
<br />
Mizoram &mdash; &quot;Mizoram is eagerly waiting for fund release as we have received only Rs 19 crore in the current financial year.&quot;<br />
<br />
Bihar &mdash; &quot;Allocation of Rs 235 crore in SEGF for material and admin exhausted and despite our efforts for reconciliation the fund are yet to be released. We need your support to get the release so that material intensive works can be taken up.&quot;
</div>
<div align="justify">
&nbsp;
</div>
<div align="justify">
Please <a href="../latest-news-updates/massive-slump-in-mnrega-work-after-centre039s-unofficial-instructions-nitin-sethi-4680429.html">click here</a> to access the part-2 of the series.&nbsp; 
</div>
<div align="justify">
&nbsp;
</div>',
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-Business Standard

Read Part I of the series: The Centre used an off-the-record WhatsApp group to instruct states to check spending and work for rural poor under MNREGA

New Delhi: Noticing a steep rise in demand for work under MNREGA in the...'
$disp = '<div align="justify">-Business Standard<br /><br /><em>Read Part I of the series: The Centre used an off-the-record WhatsApp group to instruct states to check spending and work for rural poor under MNREGA<br /><br />New Delhi: </em>Noticing a steep rise in demand for work under MNREGA in the drought year, the rural development ministry used an off-record WhatsApp chat group and told states to desist from generating more work for the poor under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee programme in August, the ministry told the state officials that the 'mad race' for generating work under MNREGA could not continue. It warned that more funds would not be made available soon and states had to 'plan' more 'judiciously' with the money they had already received. <br /><br />The instructions ran contrary to the provisions of the MNREG Act, which makes it mandatory for the government to provide as much funds as are required for the work demanded by the rural poor and not curtail work to fit its budgetary decisions. But, on the WhatsApp group the NDA government told the states that the idea that MNREGA was demand driven 'did not cut much ice anymore'. <br /><br />Faced with this informally imposed moratorium on funds, many states repeatedly pleaded the rural development ministry on the WhatsApp group for immediate release of monies to pay hundreds of crores of already piled up arrears to the poor for the work that had been completed. But faced with the Centre&rsquo;s off-record instructions, the work states provided to the rural poor in August and September came crashing down. In July 30, million extra persondays of work was given as compared to what Centre had initially approved. In September, the work provided was 54.48 million persondays less than what was initially approved for the month. This, when the budgeted work for September had anyway been kept substantially lower than that for July, adjusting for the usual lower demand in monsoon period.<br /><br />Business Standard reviewed the WhatsApp chat group named ENCORE or 'Enabling Communication on Rural Employment' by the rural development ministry.&nbsp; It has all senior ministry officials and state level MNREGA officials as members, besides others. The ministry claimed, &quot;It is simply a convenience for follow-up and reminders as also for showcasing good work by States through uploading of pictures.&quot; <br /><br />But instructions from the Union rural development ministry to the state officials on the WhatsApp group shows that the chat was also used as an off-record avenue for the Union government to pass instructions that it could not have done through formal channels, keeping the law in mind. <br /><br />On August 14, the rural development ministry&rsquo;s joint secretary in-charge of MNREGA told the states, &quot;We ought to desist from campaigns for enlisting demand and indulging in the mad race of more and more personday generation (generating of wages). While the Act (MNREG Act) does not distinguish between APL and BPL (those above and below poverty line) and vulnerable/non-vulnerable, we have to 'intelligently' communicate to the district/block/GP authorities to learn to target.&quot;<br /><br />On August 28 the rural development ministry official told the states, &quot;To resort to the logic that it is a demand-driven programme and whatever is asked for will be given, does not cut much ice now. This has been voiced in the Honourable Supreme Court too. There has to be a pragmatic handling of funds&quot;<br /><br />The officer added, &quot;Our demands cannot be unlimited for the simple reason that the resources are limited-both of the Centre and the states. The Ministry had emphatically and clearly communicated during the previous fund release that we have to strategically plan out the spending till September, 2016.&quot;<br /><br />In response to queries from Business Standard, the rural development ministry said, &quot;The Ministry is committed to implement the MGNREG Act in letter and spirit.&quot;<br /><br />It added, &quot;While work on demand is being made available as reflected in the very high persondays generation especially during periods of drought and distress, a demand based programme also requires proper record keeping, financial management and full transparency and accountability.&quot; &nbsp;<br /><br /><strong>Other states pleading for funds on WhatsApp:<br /></strong><br />Jammu and Kashmir &mdash; &quot;Our state is in dire need of funds. Only Rs 2.4 crore in SEGF (state&rsquo;s MNREGA) account. Please consider our proposal for release of 2nd instalment&hellip;We require immediate funds for engaging the rural masses.&quot; <br /><br />Jharkhand &mdash; &quot;Request to release central share too as we don&rsquo;t have any funds too.&quot;<br /><br />Mizoram &mdash; &quot;Mizoram is eagerly waiting for fund release as we have received only Rs 19 crore in the current financial year.&quot;<br /><br />Bihar &mdash; &quot;Allocation of Rs 235 crore in SEGF for material and admin exhausted and despite our efforts for reconciliation the fund are yet to be released. We need your support to get the release so that material intensive works can be taken up.&quot;</div><div align="justify">&nbsp;</div><div align="justify">Please <a href="https://im4change.in/latest-news-updates/massive-slump-in-mnrega-work-after-centre039s-unofficial-instructions-nitin-sethi-4680429.html" title="https://im4change.in/latest-news-updates/massive-slump-in-mnrega-work-after-centre039s-unofficial-instructions-nitin-sethi-4680429.html">click here</a> to access the part-2 of the series.&nbsp; </div><div align="justify">&nbsp;</div>'
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$site_title = 'im4change'
$adminprix = 'admin'

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How govt used WhatsApp to curtail work given under MNREGA -Nitin Sethi

-Business Standard Read Part I of the series: The Centre used an off-the-record WhatsApp group to instruct states to check spending and work for rural poor under MNREGA New Delhi: Noticing a steep rise in demand for work under MNREGA in the drought year, the rural development ministry used an off-record WhatsApp chat group and told states to desist from generating more work for the poor under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee programme in August, the ministry told the state officials that the 'mad race' for generating work under MNREGA could not continue. It warned that more funds would not be made available soon and states had to 'plan' more 'judiciously' with the money they had already received. The instructions ran contrary to the provisions of the MNREG Act, which makes it mandatory for the government to provide as much funds as are required for the work demanded by the rural poor and not curtail work to fit its budgetary decisions. But, on the WhatsApp group the NDA government told the states that the idea that MNREGA was demand driven 'did not cut much ice anymore'. Faced with this informally imposed moratorium on funds, many states repeatedly pleaded the rural development ministry on the WhatsApp group for immediate release of monies to pay hundreds of crores of already piled up arrears to the poor for the work that had been completed. But faced with the Centre’s off-record instructions, the work states provided to the rural poor in August and September came crashing down. In July 30, million extra persondays of work was given as compared to what Centre had initially approved. In September, the work provided was 54.48 million persondays less than what was initially approved for the month. This, when the budgeted work for September had anyway been kept substantially lower than that for July, adjusting for the usual lower demand in monsoon period. Business Standard reviewed the WhatsApp chat group named ENCORE or 'Enabling Communication on Rural Employment' by the rural development ministry.  It has all senior ministry officials and state level MNREGA officials as members, besides others. The ministry claimed, "It is simply a convenience for follow-up and reminders as also for showcasing good work by States through uploading of pictures." But instructions from the Union rural development ministry to the state officials on the WhatsApp group shows that the chat was also used as an off-record avenue for the Union government to pass instructions that it could not have done through formal channels, keeping the law in mind. On August 14, the rural development ministry’s joint secretary in-charge of MNREGA told the states, "We ought to desist from campaigns for enlisting demand and indulging in the mad race of more and more personday generation (generating of wages). While the Act (MNREG Act) does not distinguish between APL and BPL (those above and below poverty line) and vulnerable/non-vulnerable, we have to 'intelligently' communicate to the district/block/GP authorities to learn to target." On August 28 the rural development ministry official told the states, "To resort to the logic that it is a demand-driven programme and whatever is asked for will be given, does not cut much ice now. This has been voiced in the Honourable Supreme Court too. There has to be a pragmatic handling of funds" The officer added, "Our demands cannot be unlimited for the simple reason that the resources are limited-both of the Centre and the states. The Ministry had emphatically and clearly communicated during the previous fund release that we have to strategically plan out the spending till September, 2016." In response to queries from Business Standard, the rural development ministry said, "The Ministry is committed to implement the MGNREG Act in letter and spirit." It added, "While work on demand is being made available as reflected in the very high persondays generation especially during periods of drought and distress, a demand based programme also requires proper record keeping, financial management and full transparency and accountability."   Other states pleading for funds on WhatsApp: Jammu and Kashmir — "Our state is in dire need of funds. Only Rs 2.4 crore in SEGF (state’s MNREGA) account. Please consider our proposal for release of 2nd instalment…We require immediate funds for engaging the rural masses." Jharkhand — "Request to release central share too as we don’t have any funds too." Mizoram — "Mizoram is eagerly waiting for fund release as we have received only Rs 19 crore in the current financial year." Bihar — "Allocation of Rs 235 crore in SEGF for material and admin exhausted and despite our efforts for reconciliation the fund are yet to be released. We need your support to get the release so that material intensive works can be taken up."   Please click here to access the part-2 of the series.