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]
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]
Warning (512): Unable to emit headers. Headers sent in file=/home/brlfuser/public_html/vendor/cakephp/cakephp/src/Error/Debugger.php line=853 [CORE/src/Http/ResponseEmitter.php, line 48]
Warning (2): Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at /home/brlfuser/public_html/vendor/cakephp/cakephp/src/Error/Debugger.php:853) [CORE/src/Http/ResponseEmitter.php, line 148]
Warning (2): Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at /home/brlfuser/public_html/vendor/cakephp/cakephp/src/Error/Debugger.php:853) [CORE/src/Http/ResponseEmitter.php, line 181]
Notice (8): Undefined variable: urlPrefix [APP/Template/Layout/printlayout.ctp, line 8]latest-news-updates/pull-up-socks-on-nrega-jairam-tells-karnataka-14579.html"/> LATEST NEWS UPDATES | Pull up socks on NREGA, Jairam tells Karnataka | Im4change.org
Resource centre on India's rural distress
 
 

Pull up socks on NREGA, Jairam tells Karnataka

-The Times of India

Karnataka, reeling under severe drought, has received a body blow: the Centre has withheld its next instalment of grant to a rural job scheme citing five shortcomings in its implementation in the state.

"The release of the next instalment of the central share (for the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme) to the state depends very crucially on how it is able to spend the funds already available with it," Union rural development minister Jairam Ramesh wrote to chief minister D V Sadananda Gowda on Thursday.

Ramesh has found defects in monitoring, work completion rate, delay in electronic transfer of wages, inadequate action on complaints and inconsistencies in financial statements. He has asked the chief minister to act immediately to resolve these issues.

As a first step, Ramesh has asked the state government to create a separate quality-monitoring cell to ensure the productivity and sustainability of assets created under the programme. Besides, he wants work completion - already low - to be documented properly. "Once works are over, completion certificates need to be issued on priority.''

The letter says Karnataka needs to expedite the electronic transfer of the wages to workers' accounts. The state should roll out an e-fund management system in all districts within six months to ensure timely payment of wages.

Another issue flagged is inadequate action on complaints received from the public and elected representatives on the implementation of the programme. "Despite pending action-taken reports on the complaints and an adequate opening balance on April 1, 2012, we have just released Rs 700 crore for 2012-13,'' Ramesh has written.

The Union minister has also pointed out inconsistencies in financial statements. The state government had, in an April 2 letter, said it had a negative balance of Rs 356 crore as on March 31. However the national MGNREGA software shows Rs 391 crore was available at the end of March.