Warns of resorting to action after inquiry if the trend is not stopped
Says biggest weakness of MNREGA is delayed payment
Feels development, Political mobilisation, Police & paramilitary forces key factors to deal naxalism
Raipur, November 12, 2011
Union Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh has categorically asked Chief Minister Raman Singh to stop hiring blacklisted contractors for MNREGA and PMGSY works in naxal-affected districts. He warned of resorting to action after inquiry if the government would be found shortlisting blacklisted contractors for rural development works in future. Ramesh, who was in two-day Bastar tour on November 10 and 11, talked to CM for about 45 minutes regarding problem areas in MNREGA and PMGSY implementation on Saturday morning before interacting with media persons at New Circuit House.
“It was surprising revelation from me when I learnt from three Collectors that the blacklisted contractors were hired to accomplish the task of PMGSY works. The trio further informed me that the government did not give them permission to revoke the tender of one of the contractors who escaped after being hired,” Ramesh said.
“I have expressed my concern before the CM regarding this and have asked him to ensure that such trends may not be practiced in future. I told him to delegate responsibilities to Collectors as the Centre is doing to states. The Collectors will further delegate responsibilities to the panchayats and blocks. If the states expect from Centre to decentralise responsibilities then they too should do the same for better results,” he said.
“My prime focus is on the backward states including Chhattisgarh. My ministry is providing adequate fund to this state. We will support it in future too but not at the cost of corruption and irregularities,” Ramesh added. He said his ministry would conduct inquiry into the graft cases in MNREGA and PMGSY works in Chhattisgarh and they take action accordingly.
He said he intensely toured Jagdalpur, Dantewada, Bijapur, and Narayanpur in two days and took stock of rural development works there but was frustrated to learn that the MNREGA and PMGSY works had slowed down and contractors escape in the midway before finishing their tasks.
Three major changes
Ramesh informed that his discussion with the CM resulted in three major changes in rural development works to be implemented in future in naxal-infested areas. First - the deadline of road construction projects has been stretched by six months, i.e. from 18 months to 24 months. Second - small-package-work-formula would be adopted for quick completion of the projects. Under this formula, high cost works would be broken into small cost works worth Rs 50 lakh each. Third –Ramesh accepted the CM’s proposal to allow Forest and Police departments to do road construction works without tendering. Ramesh said the Forest department would soon commence a road construction project in Bijapur.
Two approvals for MNREGA
Ramesh said he had nodded the CM’s proposals to include village playgrounds and cattle sheds in the list of approved MNREGA works.
Biggest weakness of MNREGA is delayed payment
“The biggest weakness of MNREGA is delayed payment. The permissible delay is 15 days, but 8-9 months delay is intolerable,” Ramesh said. He informed that Andhra Pradesh was the only state in the country where the labourers get timely payment with maximum delay of 15 days.
Now cash payment in Bijapur
The union minister announced that considering late payments in the state, he had given permission for disbursal of cash payment to the labourers under MNREGA works in Bijapur. “Cash payment will be disbursed for the first time in the state. My permission is on experimental basis. If we will get success, model will be adopted in other naxal-hit districts too,” Ramesh said. “At present, Tamil Nadu is the only state in the country where cash payment is being disbursed. Still, I am not in favour of this cult,” he added.
He said to maintain transparency the cash payment would be done in presence of panchayat representatives and members of self help groups (SHGs). Besides, videography of the cash payments would also be done as an evidence, he added.
Mobile banking facility in Bastar in three months
Ramesh said to expedite disbursal of MNREGA payments he had talked to senior SBI officials who assured him that the mobile banking facility in Bastar would start in next three months.
Problems galore in Bastar
Ramesh said he had found problems in work implementation of other departments too besides those of his ministry. He said the naxal-affected regions not only lack proper road connectivity, but also mobile connectivity. “The BSNL network is missing in remote areas while private companies have not yet reached there,” he said.
“Similarly, the works under National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) and Rajiv Gandhi Vidyutikaran Yojna (RGVY) have slowed down,” he said adding that he would talk to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Home Minister P Chidambaram in this connection.
Ramkrishna Mission has greater presence than govt in Narayanpur
Ramesh said the government was missing in 75 percent part of Narayanpur district while a social organisation like Ramkrishna Mission had greater presence. He said considering the extended activities of Ramkrishna Mission, especially in areas like Orchha, he had talked to the organisation’s representatives and proposed to operate Aaanganbadi and health centres along with ashram schools through them. “The Mission’s authorities accepted my proposal and soon we will chalk out plan in this direction,” Ramesh said.
Three factors can deal naxalism
Ramesh said three factors – development, political mobilisation and police and paramilitary forces can deal the naxal issue. By development he meant the locals must know the works being done in their areas by the government. By political mobilisation he meant the increased activities of political parties in distant naxal-infested areas. Ramesh cited example of West Bengal CM Mamta Banerjee’s political rallies in Maoist-dominated Jungle Mahal. “Political mobilisation will strengthen public faith in democratic system,” he said. By police and paramilitary forces Ramesh meant the combative strength directly tackle naxals. “They are inevitable party but have limitation and can’t do miracles alone,” he said.
Emphasis on strengthening of Panchayati Raj system
Ramesh emphasised on strengthening of Panchayati Raj system for effective implementation of rural development works. Citing example of Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act (PESA), he said lack of its proper implementation led to ramification of naxalism. “Panchayati raj system cannot be strong only by election procedures. Presently, there are 40 lakh elected panchayat representatives, but they are powerless due to weak Panchayati Raj system,” he said.
Four positive outcomes of MNREGA
Ramesh said there were four positive outcomes of MNREGA – hike in agricultural wage rate, migrations reduced, barren lands became fertile and vast durable assets were developed.
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