Odisha's expenditure in MGNREGA below expectation: Jairam Ramesh

BHUBANESWAR: Union Minister for Rural Development Jairam Ramesh has termed Odisha's expenditure under MGNREGA 'below expectation'.

"While total availability of funds as on July 2013 is Rs 715 crore, the actual expenditure is only Rs 359 crore. This is way below the expectation," Ramesh said in a letter to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik after reviewing the 2013-14 fiscal's first quarter performance of MGNREGA in the state.

Noting that Odisha is a special focus state under MGNREGA, Ramesh said creation of man-days and utilisation of financial resources could improve in the state.

The expenditure in Odisha under MGNREGA in 2012-13 was Rs 1,181 crore and expenditure estimated for 2013-14 was Rs 1,515.79 crore, he said.

Earlier, in the month of May, Ramesh in another letter to the chief minister had suggested that the state government take action on the CAG report, which had found some serious irregularities in implementation of the central sponsored scheme.

Previously, Ramesh had expressed concern over the lower participation of women in MGNREGA in the state, which was at a low around 36 per cent against 70 per cent in Rajasthan.

Informing that the ministry has received complaints from people about serious irregularities in MGNREGS implementation, he urged the chief minister to submit an action taken report.