Implementation of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MNREGA) in Bidar district has become less effective over the last few years. While officials cite procedural delays, labour leaders claim that large-scale irregularities are affecting the pace of works.
In 2009-10, panchayat bodies distributed 2,33,959 job cards to willing, unskilled labourers. But last year, only 2,06,110 cards were distributed, marking a reduction of almost 30,000 cards. Then, the district provided jobs to 1,20,708 families; last year, the total number of families that benefited was just 57,135.
When it comes to individual labourers, the picture is more dismal: in 2009-10, various gram panchayats employed 2,41,525 people, but last year, they employed just 1,38,206.
The number of projects taken up too has reduced drastically. While the 176 gram panchayats in the district took up 6,029 works in 2009-10, this figure was down to just 333 projects last year. Then, the district spent Rs. 83 crore on the MNREGA, but only Rs. 61.4 crore last year.
According to district president of the Karnataka Pradesh Raitha Sangha Siddappa Metre, graft was slowing down the implementation of the scheme. Some officials want to make money out of the scheme. They prepare bogus work lists and misuse funds, he alleged.
“When such works are detected during third party inspection or by the Accounts Department, the government suspends payments under the project. This forces the gram panchayats concerned to suspend new works,” Mr. Metre said.
Officials, however, observed that procedural delays were obstructing the scheme. Gram panchayats draw plans for works to be taken up and send them to the taluk panchayats, which takes a lot of time to approve the plans. “If gram panchayats don't start the work while there is demand for work, villagers lose interest. This is the main reason why our works and spending under the MNREGA has reduced,” said a senior zilla panchayat official.
Labour leaders are of the opinion that the government has missed an opportunity to improve the lives of the poor. “MNREGA can be a very effective anti-poverty measure if implemented well. It can stop migration and help the poor live a life of dignity. But then, the government cannot blame anyone if it fails to implement it properly,” said labour leader R.P. Raja.
“There are several problems with the scheme here”, said labour leader Baburao Honna. “The number of job cards issued is extremely less. In a district of over 16 lakh, less than 2.5 lakh persons have got job cards, which is just 15 per cent of the population,” Mr. Honna said.
Zilla panchayat president Baburao Shankarrao denied that corruption was slowing down the scheme. He said he would hold a meeting of officials at the taluk and gram panchayat levels to ensure better coordination.
