Irregularities noticed under social audit for MGNREGS in MP

BHOPAL: A pilot social audit conducted to oversee the implementation of Centre's flagship Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme in Mandla district of Madhya Pradesh has found several alleged irregularities such as faulty disbursement of wage and material payment.

The social audit, conducted in 81 gram panchayats of Mandla, found irregularities like incomplete muster roll, no photograph on job cards and delay in wage payment among others in the implementation of the scheme, according to official documents.

The audit was carried out in May and June by Madhya Pradesh State Social Audit Society, an autonomous body under the state government.

Its report was shared with the Ministry of Rural Development which had sought a response from the state government on complaints of alleged corruption in the implementation of MGNREGS in Madhya Pradesh.

"Two gram panchayats -- Sathedanda and Khapakala -- did not provide the required documents related to MGNREGS implementation. Looking into the issues, the secretaries were found at fault for not providing documents and hence they were suspended," Madhya Pradesh State Social Audit Society has told the Ministry of Rural Development in its response.

In three gram panchayats -- Lingamal, Mavaijar and Bakchheradona -- irregularities regarding fault disbursement of wage and material payment were found, it said.

"Necessary instructions have been issued from state level to both district and block levels to take disciplinary action against the person concerned. To take action against the person responsible for fault, an investigation team was constituted at block level.

"The team has found the complaints to be true and has proposed to take disciplinary action against sarpanch, secretary and mates of concerned gram panchayats under Panchayati Raj Act," said the letter, copy of which has been accessed under the RTI Act by activist Ajay Dubey.

Forty-four gram panchayats resolved themselves issues like delay in wage payment, lack of workside facilities and incomplete muster role.

No issues of irregularities were found in 32 gram panchayats, the autonomous body said.

" MP government is not serious in its efforts to stop corruption in MGNREGS. They are not organising meeting of state vigilance and monitoring committee of rural department which is supposed to be held every quarter.

"The last meeting of the committee was held on November 20. Lokpals to oversee working of MGNREGS in state are also not functional since their appointment," Dubey alleged.

The MGNREGS provides a minimum of 100 days of employment to people living below the poverty lines.