Lok Sabha Question No. 289 (STARRED), answered on 2018-03-15
Subject: Misuse of Funds under MGNREGS
Ministry: RURAL DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: HARISHCHANDRA DEORAM CHAVAN, VIJAY KUMAR HANSDAK

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 289

TO BE ANSWERED ON 15.03.2018

## MISUSE OF FUNDS UNDER MGNREGS

## *289.   SHRI HARISHCHANDRA CHAVAN: SHRI VIJAY KUMAR HANSDAK:

Will the Minister of RURAL DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has neither taken any steps to check the misuse of funds under the Mahatma  Gandhi  National Rural Employment  Guarantee  Scheme (MGNREGS) nor taken any action against corrupt officials/persons responsible for implementation of the scheme;
- (b) if so, the reaction of the Government thereto;
- (c) the  details  of  the  action  taken  by  the  Government  against  the  persons  involved  in corrupt activities under the said scheme during the last three years and the current year, State-wise; and
- (d) the details of provisions made under MGNREGS to check the corrupt activities in the implementation of the scheme?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT (SHRI NARENDRA SINGH TOMAR)

(a) to (d): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

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## Statement in reply to Parts (a) to (d) of Lok Sabha Starred Question No. 289 for 15.03.2018

(a)to(c): The  Ministry  under  Mahatma  Gandhi  National  Rural  Employment  Guarantee Scheme  (MGNREGS)  receives  complaints  of  irregularities  including  misuse  of  funds  from States/UTs.  Since  the  responsibility  of  implementation  of  MGNREGA  vests  with  the  State Governments,  all  complaints  received  in  the  Ministry  are  forwarded  to  the  concerned  State Governments  for  taking  appropriate  action  including investigation, as per law. Detailed instructions  by  way  of  Standard  Operating  Procedure  (SOP)  for  dealing  with  complaints  have also been issued to all State/UTs.

(d): Section  27(2)  of  Mahatma  Gandhi  NREGA,  2005  states  that  'the  Central  Government may, on receipt of any complaint regarding lack of effective implementation of the provisions of the  Act  or  regarding  the  improper  utilization  of  funds  granted  under  this  Act,  order  an investigation into the complaint and if necessary, shall order stoppage of release of funds to the scheme if  no  appropriate  remedial  measures  are  instituted  for  proper  implementation  within  a reasonable period of time as defined by the Central Government.' The following provisions have been made under MGNREGS to check irregularities:

- (i) The  Ministry  has  implemented  Ne-FMS/e-FMS  for  payment  of  wages  directly into the accounts of the workers either in Banks/ Post Office.
- (ii) DBT is being implemented under MGNREGA. The Aadhaar numbers are seeded into  the  program data base. As of now, Aadhaar numbers of 10.05 crore active workers have been seeded in the MIS.
- (iii) Establishment of Independent Social Audit Unit at the State level for conducting Social Audit.
- (iv) Engagement of National Level Monitors.
- (v) Monitoring visit cum inspection at different level.
- (vi) Engagement of Ombudsperson.
- (vii) Job card verification exercise across all States.
- (viii) Common Review Mission.
- (ix) Internal  audit  by  the  office  of  Chief  Controller  Accounts-  Rural  Development (CCA-RD).
- (x) Frequent field visits for inspection by the Ministry.

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