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Sarpanch stir hits NREGS work by Anindo Dey


Once lauded as a model state for implementation of MGNREGA — the flagship programme of the UPA government — the state is on the backfoot nowadays as far as the scheme is concerned.

Even as the Opposition BJP and the ruling Congress try to extract political mileage out of sarpanches agitation, at stake is the very scheme that has not only reduced the migration of labourers to other states but has also given individual financial power and employment to thousands of women in the state.

If the first blood was drawn by the social audit at Bhilwara that exposed the numerous chinks in the scheme, the issue now is some pre-emptive steps taken by the government to stop the drain of NREGA funds.

Earlier this year, with the panchayat elections in sight, the Congress government had literally ‘upheld’ a protest that followed in the state after the audit brought to fore anomalies worth crores of rupees through a PIL in the high court which ultimately brought the entire audit process to a standstill.

Now, the steps initiated by the government in correcting its earlier follies seem to have backfired. Prime amongst the steps include taking away the rights to purchase materials by the sarpanches themselves and instead making a scheme of centralised purchase at the block level.

Audits then by Suchna Evum Rozgar Ka Adhikar Abhiyan and later by the government itself had brought to fore that most of the funds that were diverted were done during purchase of materials by sarpanches.

Not only were standing rules flouted, but in many instances the sarpanches had bought materials from unregistered firms sometimes belonging to their relatives. There were no bills for the purchased goods while at others a cycle tyre repairer was shown to have supplied goods worth thousands.

As per the recent audit done by government officials, anomalies worth Rs 6.20 crore have emerged. And this even when the gram panchayats had done an audit of their own work. The immediate reaction that followed was a strike by the gram sevaks from August 26 this year that ultimately culminated in the lathicharge by the police near the assembly.

“The truth is that the gram sevaks don’t want any audit of their work at all. The NREGA law states that the government is responsible for maintaining the system so that corruption is limited and though the new system also has flaws, it is much reduced,” says Nikhil Dey of the Abhiyan.

Under the new system, the sarpanches will place orders for materials but purchase will be done at the block level. The purchases are subject to scrutiny by a committee that includes the new sarpanch, junior engineer, the ward member etc.

“After that the purchased materials are sent to the panchayats and the sarpanches ratify the materials. It is only then that he himself signs the cheques for payments. So where is the problem? If the materials are not good then he can refuse from signing the cheque. How can the procurement agency and the implementing agency be the same person,” he asks.

However, Pahar Singh Bhati, president of Rajasthan Sarpanches Association, says that the protest is only because of their powers being diluted.

According to Bhati, the rule of purchasing construction material used in MGNREGA works only through contractors by inviting tenders was not mentioned in the Act.

“This rule has been introduced by bureaucrats so that government officials can get commission from the big contractors,” he says.

And while Bhati may have a point as audits have also brought to light anomalies committed in material purchase even at the level of collectors, Dey points put that the scales have definitely been brought down.

“The basic point is that that corruption is fast threatening this perfectly good scheme in the state, said Nikhil Dey.

He added that states such as Tamil Nadu and Kerala have done away with material purchase at all. They are only into work like digging ponds and paying all the money to the labourers.