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Anomalies in MGNREGS led to Rs 35 cr loss in 3 dists of TN, Rajasthan, MP: Govt audit
According to sources, the IAW findings are part of the Annual Review of Performance Audit for 2023-24, a report prepared by the Office of Chief Controller of Accounts and shared with the MoRD.
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The data available on the NREGS portal shows that the number of households working through the rural job guarantee scheme stood at 75.97 lakh in 2021-22. (Representational photo)The Internal Audit Wing (IAW) of the Union Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD) has detected discrepancies leading to losses totalling Rs 35.37 crore in some districts of Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MG-NREGS) during 2023-24. Out of this, the IAW flagged losses totalling Rs 34.02 crore in Virudhunagar district of Tamil Nadu alone, besides Rs 1.09 crore in Nagaur (Rajasthan) and Rs 26 lakh in Morena (Madhya Pradesh).
According to sources, the IAW findings are part of the Annual Review of Performance Audit for 2023-24, a report prepared by the Office of Chief Controller of Accounts and shared with the MoRD. The IAW conducted an audit of 92 works of various rural development schemes, including MG-NREGS, across the country during 2023-24. The report also showed that a loss of Rs 5.20 lakh was detected in the implementation of Pradhan Mantri Gramin Awaas Yojana (PMAY-G) in Pherzawl district of Manipur.
As per the report, the IAW also found cases of wasteful and infructuous and unauthorised expenditure on works under MG-NREGS, PMAY-G and Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) across Gujarat, Sikkim, Manipur, Odisha, Kerala, Himachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Bihar. The total amount of wasteful and unauthorised expenditure across these states was reported at Rs 15.20 crore.
“ln 2023-24, a total of 92 risk-based internal audits were conducted, the highest since the establishment of the internal audit wing in this ministry… schemes run by the ministry are social welfare in nature. Therefore, it is important to spend the money for the purpose it is meant in a transparent manner. The benefits should reach the intended beneficiaries and lead to a robust rural economy. IAW tries to verify the value for money and judicious expenditure in a transparent manner while conducting internal audit of units and risk-based audit of the schemes/programmes,” the report noted.
In the last financial year (2022-23), the IAW had detected a loss of Rs 23.17 crore in the implementation of the NREGS, PMGSY and National Social Assistance Program (NSAP). The maximum losses were reported under MG-NREGS (Rs 22.39 crore), followed by PMGSY (Rs 74 lakh) and the NSAP (Rs 2 lakh).
In the MG-NREGS, losses were reported from two districts— Rs 22.28 crore in Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh and Rs 11.80 lakh in Nadia district of West Bengal. The PMGSY losses were reported from West Tripura district (Rs 74 lakh), while losses under the NSAP were reported from West Bengal’s Malda (Rs 2.81 lakh).
Queries sent to the MoRD for comment did not receive a response.
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