Rajasthan FB alleges irregularities in NREGS

Alleging serious administrative irregularities in the implementation of the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS) in the state, the Forward Bloc (FB) has said several labourers from the district are moving to neighbouring states in search of jobs.

Forward Bloc's Rajasthan state unit general secretary Hirachand Jain said though the Centre has sanctioned Rs 455 crores for the scheme's second phase with an advance of Rs 177 crore for the third phase, the state has failed to provide jobs to the labourers. Jain also alleged that labourers were paid below Rs 100 in several districts, forcing them to shift to neighbouring states in search of livelihood.

"Out of the Rs 572 crore released by the Centre till date for NREGS, the state has not paid wages to the tune of Rs 340 crore to the labourers since their bank accounts have not been opened," Jain said in a statement. The veteran Forward Bloc cadre said the party would take up the matter with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh through its UPA co-ordination committe if the state government failed to contain the irregularities. He also threatened to raise the issue with Central Vigilance Commission and the Comptroller and Auditor General of India.