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LATEST NEWS UPDATES | Probe confirms anomalies under MGNREGS in Sonbhadra by Swati Mathur

Probe confirms anomalies under MGNREGS in Sonbhadra by Swati Mathur

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published Published on Feb 16, 2011   modified Modified on Feb 16, 2011
Results of an investigation report filed by senior government of India officials have confirmed largescale anomalies in the implementation of Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MG NREGS) in Sonbhadra district of Uttar Pradesh. The investigation was conducted in the first week of January, in response to a series of complaints filed by Sanjay Dixit, member, Central Employment Guarantee Council, in August, 2010, that pointed to widespread misuse of MGNREGS funds, poor quality of construction work, as well as non-payment of dues to labourers.

Following the complaint, and to "ascertain the facts'', the Ministry of Rural Development, in a letter dated October 28, 2010, constituted a 2-member team comprising G N Sharma, consultant (works) and N K Yadava, to conduct an inquiry into the allegations. The report, a copy of which is with TOI, in its concluding chapters, said: "The allegation made by the complainant that there is wrong selection of sites for construction of check dam, check damns are damaged because of poor quality of construction and use of substandard material, excessive expenditure...no proper utilisation of assets created, and non-payment of dues to the labourers have been found correct.''

A detailed report of the anomalies, a copy of which was dispatched to Union rural development minister C P Joshi in August, 2010, showed irregular fund transactions in MGNREGS, running into several lakhs. When contacted, Dixit alleged: " District Sonbhadra saw the maximum NREGS payout in the last financial year. When a survey was conducted, however, much of the data was found to have been fudged. Large sums of money were also siphoned off.''

In instances of anomalies noted, existing ponds were re-dug, muster rolls saw repeats of existing thumb prints, and panchayat level development officers even failed to certify the data. In addition, while check dams in various stages were in disrepair in most cases, NREGS norms were also flouted openly by using a tractor to carry out digging operations, where manual labour was needed for constructing a pond.

When contacted, DM Sonbhadra, Pandhari Yadav and assistant director rural development, UP, Anurag Yadav were unavailable for comment on Monday.

Following the complaints though, Sonbhadra district magistrate Pandhari Yadav had acknowledged that complaints had been voiced about faulty implementation of MNREGS and orders for recovery were issued against erring officials.

Interestingly, this is not the first instance when irregularities have been noticed in the implementation of MNREGS in UP. Instances were also reported in at least seven other districts, with the Centre suggesting calling in Clause 27 (2) of NREGS as a punitive measure, where the Central Government, on finding prima facie evidence of improper utilisation of funds may order stoppage of release of funds to the scheme and institute appropriate remedial measures for its proper implementation.

The Times of India, 15 February, 2011, http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/lucknow/Probe-confirms-anomalies-under-MGNREGS-in-Sonbhadra/articleshow/7498109.cms


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