The government today admitted to irregularities in implementation of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), and said it has taken steps to rectify them and improve the scheme's delivery.
Minister of State for Rural Development Upendra Kushwaha told the Rajya Sabha in a written reply that the ministry has established a comprehensive system of monitoring and review mechanism for proper implementation of the job scheme.
"The ministry under MGNREGA has received complaints regarding misappropriation of funds, use of fake job cards and muster rolls, non-provision and non-opening up of works and delay in payment of wages to workers," Kushwaha said.
As per details, till June 30 this year, the ministry has received a total of 3,641 complaints, of which 1,769 have been disposed of.
The details furnished by the ministry reveal that a total of 935 complaints were received for misappropriation of funds and 263 for forgery of muster rolls. Similarly 249 complaints were for non-payment of wages and 717 were about corruption.
On the steps taken to rectify the irregularities, the minister said a comprehensive system of monitoring and review mechanism for MGNREGA including periodic progress report and performance review committee meetings has been put in place.
Apart from that, states have also been requested to strengthen social audits of MGNREGA works in accordance with the provisions of Audit of Schemes Rules 2011. To avoid bogus attendance and to check instances of tempering and misuse of muster rolls, e-muster system has been introduced, he said.
He said that for smooth fund flow, the electronic fund management system (e-FMS) has been introduced while all states has been requested to appoint ombudsman at district level for grievance redressal, he said.
Replying to another question, the minister said there was no proposal to provide employment for 365 days in a year under MGNREGA. "Wage rates under MGNREGA are notified and revised annually effective from April 1 of the year by the central government...," the minister said. He said, under MGNREGA, all adult members of a household are eligible to avail not less than 100 days of wage employment in a year.
