Violation in NREGA provisions

Newindpress, 28th March , 2008

BHAWANIPATNA: Notwithstanding the district administration’s directive to bring in transparency in the NREGA works, violations of NREGA provisions continue to be reported at both the block and panchayat levels in Kalahandi district.Recently, during an inquiry conducted by the Collector on the basis of a complaint lodged by villagers of Chancher GP under Bhawanipatna block regarding non-receipt of payments under NREGA, several violations came to light. The block and panchayat officials had allegedly ‘distorted’ the provisions to such an extent that payments had not been made to many workers within a stipulated dateline.In one of the works, apart from not providing unemployment allowance for an amount of Rs 70,210 to 118 job-seekers, they were not provided work for over 34 days though the work should have been given within a fortnight.After prolonged delay, this work was also executed without administrative approval and online entry.In another case, 185 persons were not given unemployment allowance for 35 days totalling about Rs. 1.14 lakh and the work was executed later without administrative approval.The Collector in his report held the BDO, JE, assistant engineer, computer programmer, programme officer of DRDA, sarpanch of Chancher GP and PEO of Chancher GP responsible for the mess.He ordered for immediate payment of unemployment allowance and wages for the works actually executed.