NREGA probe outs shady dobha deals

RANCHI: If figures of a survey conducted by the Jharkhand NREGA watch are to be believed, more than 25% dobhas in the test check districts were either not constructed or were dug using machines. The survey was conducted in one block each of four districts -Giridih, Simdega, Khunti and Garhwa.
Out of the 257 dobhas shown to have been constructed on NREGA management information system (MIS), ground verification revealed that 45 schemes never took off for various reasons but they were shown to be complete on the MIS data.In another 23 schemes, JCB machines were used instead of mandatory human labour as is prerequisite of MGNREGA.
Addressing the media, state convener Jharkhand NREGA watch, James Herenj said that the net estimate for those 257 dobha was Rs 61.87 lakh against which only Rs 34.10 lakh has been spent corresponding to 55% of the estimated expense. "Around 471 labourers have not been paid wages worth Rs 3.3 lakh whereas in 24 incomplete schemes labour payment worth Rs4.19 lakh have been withdrawn using fake muster rolls," he said.
Admitting that the size of the sample survey was small, Herenj said that four blocks in four different districts were chosen to check the overall status of 1 lakh dobha construction as was promised by the state government to be taken up under NREGA during the Yojna Banao Abhiyan.
"We named our survey as Yojna Dhundo Abhiyan (scheme search campaign) after reports of irregularities reached us from various quarters," he said.In Jaldega block of Simdega district, two records were found for a single scheme in Patiamba panchayat. Money was withdrawn in the name of both the schemes. "Similar four cases were found in the same block in which money was withdrawn for both the schemes in record thereby enabling fraudulent withdrawal or Rs 65,130.
Herenj said that the details of the survey report would be shared with NREGA commissioner and principal secretary, rural development department in state government besides sending a copy to the Centre for real monitoring of NREGA schemes. "Our report on well-making projects under NREGA in 2012 was accepted by the Centre and during cross-checking by a team of central officials the findings were found to be correct," he said expressing hope that the labourers would be extended benefits instead of the middlemen in future projects..