Admits irregularities prevailed in MNREGA & PMGSY works
Would make two social audits mandatory in a year
Holding Chhattisgarh government responsible for delay in Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MNREGA), the Union Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh says that the Centre cannot be blamed for it. “It is the primary responsibility of the state governments to corruption in Centrally-sponsored schemes,” he said while addressing media persons after concluding his two-day Chhattisgarh visit at the residence of leader of Congress legislators’ party (CLP) Ravindra Choubey on Saturday.
He said the cult of delayed payment was bad omen for progress of rural development works in the state. “A according to the Act, the workers should get payment within fifteen days of completion of their work, but in case of ten naxal-hit districts of Chhattisgarh the payment has been delayed by three months to one year. This has resulted in labour crisis in these districts. Now people are reluctant to go at work,” Ramesh said.
“I also found that Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojna (PMGSY) has not been implemented properly in some parts of Chhattisgarh. Even state’s Panchayat and Rural Development Minister Ramvichar Netam and the department’s Principal Secretary Vivek Dhand admitted that sub-standard materials had been used on some of the projects we inspected jointly,” said Ramesh.
“The Centre is disbursing whopping Rs 90000 crore annually to the state governments to spend in rural development schemes. Chhattisgarh is receiving Rs 3500 crore. The Centre simply wants the state governments to make right use of the funds,” he added.
The minister apparently indicated that he would closely keep a tab on his ministry’s nine flagship programmes including MNREGA and PMGSY.
My first tour in new avatar
“I have come to Chhattisgarh earlier but this is my first tour in this state in my new avatar. I have toured Kanker and Dhamtari districts in two days. I also interacted with district panchayat CEOs and public representatives of five naxal-infested districts – Jagdalpur, Kanker, Narayanpur, Bijapur and Dantewada. I listened, watched and read in this tour,” said Ramesh adding that he had spent only 12 days in the ministry and would speak after sometime when he would explore more.
He said he would come to state regularly in every three months and his next Chhattisgarh visit would be on October 22, 2011.
Prime focus on naxal-hit districts
“My prime focus is on ten naxal-hit districts of Chhattisgarh,” Ramesh said. “In fact, my priority is effective implementation of rural development schemes in 60 naxal-hit districts across the country. About 80 percent of these districts are in three states – Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Odisha.
No politics, simply work
The minister says that he does not believe in politics and rather wants transparent implementation of Centrally-sponsored rural development schemes. “I have received large number of complaints regarding misuse of funds in several states. I think Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) can help tightening noose on implementation agencies,” he said.
Ramesh informed that he would meet CAG on July 26 and would request to appoint special accountant General (AG) for large states to monitor implementation of rural development works.
He further said that he was planning to make two social audits mandatory in a year.
I have suitcase-full of complaints
On complaints regarding corruption and scams in Central works, the minister said, “Yes, the Congress leaders have provided me some documental evidence regarding misuse of funds in MNREGA and PMGSY works in Dhamtari. In fact, I have got suitcase-full of complaints. However, I am not taking the complaints just to put them in files, but instead I would go through them and take appropriate action.
Rural development major tool to deal naxals
Ramesh says that if the if Chhattisgarh government seriously wants to eradicate naxalism then it should make use of rural development factor as major tool in naxal-affected districts. “The outcome will surely appear in a couple of years as such places desperately require development,” the minister said.
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