Jharkhand mismanaged job scheme: CAG report

Jharkhand fell far short of its target in providing mandays under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme in 2006-2007...

Jharkhand fell far short of its target in providing mandays under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme in 2006-2007, said a report prepared by the Comptroller and Auditor General Of India CAG. The report, laid in the House on Wednesday, said total employment generation reported to the Union Government was 5.20 crore mandays against the requisite 23.04 crore mandays, which was 77.5 per cent less than the target. The total expenditure incurred during this period was Rs 711.55 crore, it said.

Observing that NREGS was initiated with the aim of enhancing livelihood security in rural areas, by providing at least 100 days guaranteed wage employment in each financial year, the report said, the stated objectives were not achieved in Jharkhand in 2006-07. The scheme, it said, suffered due to delays, non-conduct of survey, non-preparation of annual action plans and district perspective plans, lack of sensitivity towards targeted beneficiaries, non-appointment of key personnel, mismanagement of scheme funds and selecting works in violation of scheme guidelines.

NREGS was lunched in 20 out of the 22 districts of the state in 2006. The auditors checked records of the Rural Development Department pertaining to 181 work sites located in 56 panchayats and 14 blocks and found that the scheme was launched after a delay of 15 months. District and panchayat level communities, to ensure representation of all sections of society, were not formed in the state. Worse, District Perspective Plans and Annual Action Plans 8212; envisaged by NREGS 8212; were not prepared in Dhanbad, Gumla, Palamau and West Singhbhum. In seven districts, Rs 306.73 crore 77 per cent out of available funds of Rs 398.04 crore was spent. Out of 41,371 works, only 12,443 works were completed. This left 28,928 works incomplete on which Rs 192.84 crore had already been spent.

8220;Employment was to be provided within 15 days of demand, failing which unemployment allowance was to be paid at the rate fixed by the state Government. In Palamau and Sahebgunj, 1.04 lakh workers demanded employment during 2006-07. But only 0.97 lakh were provided jobs. Remaining 7,000 workers were not paid unemployment allowance,8221; said the report, adding, 8220;the matter was reported to the Government in September 2007, but no reply was received.8221;

Asked if the state Government had taken stock of the CAG report, Secretary NREGS Pradeep Kumar said, 8220;We have set up an implementation wing and hope to improve our performance this year.8221;