Is implementation of MNREGA in Kolhapur riddled with irregularities?
30 Dec, 2013
The reply to an application filed under the Right to Information (RTI) Act has shown that there might be large scale irregularities in the implementation of various schemes under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MNREGA) across the Kolhapur district in Maharashtra.
The RTI applicant, based on the reply to the application, has raised concerns about the works claimed to be done under the scheme in 14 villages of the district. He also expressed his doubts regarding misappropriation of funds in the name of fake labourers as the disabled persons are also included in the list of labourers.
In this regard, a delegation of the Aam Aadmi Party's Kolhapur unit also met with the district collector and requested for a transparent inquiry into the allegation. They also told the collector that apart from the 14 villages mentioned in the reply, there are cases from other parts of the district where funds were appropriated by showing fake development works and forged signatures of fake labourers. The delegation alleged that such misappropriation could not be achieved without the help of senior government officials and also demanded punitive actions against them and the gramsevak and sarpanch of the concerned villages.
The district collector has assured the delegation that transparent inquiry will be conducted into the allegations.