Lok Sabha Question No. 1226 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-02-09
Subject: Irregularities in MGNREGS
Ministry: RURAL DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Ravindra Kushawaha

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

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1226

ANSWERED ON 09.02.2021

## IRREGULARITIES IN MGNREGS

## 1226.   SHRI RAVINDRA KUSHWAHA:

Will the Minister of RURAL DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  assets  created  under  Mahatma  Gandhi  National  Rural  Employment  Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) is less than the amount provided during the last three years and the current year, if so, the details thereof and the reasons thereof;
- (b) whether some cases of irregularity/manipulation pertaining to funds have come to light under MGNREGS during the said period; and
- (c) if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  the  action  taken  thereon  alongwith  the  remedial  measures taken to check such irregularities in future?

## ANSWER

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

(a)      Mahatma  Gandhi  National  Rural  Employment  Guarantee  Scheme  (Mahatma  Gandhi NREGS) is a demand driven wage employment programme which provide for the enhancement of livelihood security of the households in rural areas of the country by providing at least one hundred days of guaranteed wage employment in every financial year to every household whose adult members volunteer to do unskilled manual work. Under Mahatma Gandhi NREGS, focus is given  on  creation  of  productive  assets  of  prescribed  quality  and  durability.  Details  of  fund released to States/Union Territories (UTs) and completed works in last three years and current financial year is given below:

| Financial Year                  |   2017-18 |   2018-19 |   2019-20 |   2020-21* |
|---------------------------------|-----------|-----------|-----------|------------|
| Works completed (In lakh)       |     63.56 |     91.57 |     74.45 |      68.14 |
| Central Release ( Rs. In crore) |  55659.9  |  62125.1  |  71020.4  |   91327.4  |

- (b) & (c)  The detail of grievances regarding misappropriation/misuse of funds under Mahatma Gandhi NREGS received through CPGRAMS portal in last three years and current financial year 2020-21 (so far) given below:

| Status of Complaints from 01.04.2017 to 05.02.2021          | Status of Complaints from 01.04.2017 to 05.02.2021   | Status of Complaints from 01.04.2017 to 05.02.2021   | Status of Complaints from 01.04.2017 to 05.02.2021   |
|-------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------|
| Grievance Category                                          | Total No. of Grievances Received                     | Total No. of Grievances Disposed                     | No. of Grievances Pending                            |
| Misappropriation/misuse of funds under Mahatma Gandhi NREGS | 83                                                   | 83                                                   | 0                                                    |

Further, the Ministry allows for registering complaint through various forum viz. CPGRAMS, complaint  through  State/  UT  helpline,  written  complaints,  etc.  Complaints  received  in  the Ministry are forwarded to the concerned States/Union Territories (UTs) for taking appropriate action  including  investigation.  In  some  cases,  special  National  Monitors  are  also  sent  for investigation into the matter. Steps have been taken to strengthen transparency and accountability  which  include  geo-tagging  of  assets,  Direct  Benefit  Transfer  (DBT),  National electronic  Fund  Management  System  (Ne-FMS),  Aadhaar  Based  Payment  System  (ABPS), Software for Estimate Calculation using Rural rates for Employment (SECURE)  and establishment  of  independent  social  audit  units  and  appointment  of  Ombudspersons  in  the States/UTs. Also State/UT specific reviews are undertaken from time to time.

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