Srinagar, Jan 24:Questioning claims of the government on Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS), opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Wednesday called for a thorough inquiry into the implementation of this flagship programme which, according to the party, has turned into a big scam in J&K.
Responding to the claims of minister for rural development on the “achievements of the government” in implementing this important programme, PDP chief spokesperson Naeem Akhtar said the government claims are completely baseless and the figures quoted by the minister are misleading. He said the huge funds received from Government of India during the last four years have been grossly mis-utilised even as a greater portion of them is still lying with the government because of its inability to spend properly.
Quoting figures from Ministry of Rural Development Government of India, Akhtar said that till December last the government of India had released a

whopping Rs 1700 crore for implementation of the programme. “Out of this only around Rs 800 crore have been spent which amounts to less than 50% of the funds received from government of India during the four years of present government,” he said and added that J&K has been one of the worst performers among all the states in the country.
Akhtar said the present government had politicized the implementation of MNREGS and as a result its very objective of transforming rural life through employment and development had been subverted.
He said instead of providing jobs to the deserving “the present government has established a new class of exploiters who belong to the ruling parties and work as commission agents.” These agents, he said instead of employing labourers mostly use machines to execute works and make money without sharing the benefits of the scheme with those for whom it was devised.
The PDP spokesperson said the government of India should take a note of the gross violation of the MGNREGS guidelines in J&K. He said following complaints of massive misuse of funds in Rural Development sector, the Government of India is reported to have stopped funding under MNREGS in the district. He said the government must come clean on this and release the report of the government of India on the subject.
Referring to the orders of Government of India issued in Sept 2009 for establishment of the office of the Ombudsman in all the districts for redressal of grievances, Akhtar said the state government had failed to constitute this important authority.
Akhtar alleged that funds under MNREGS were reportedly utilized for organizing public meetings for the chief minister, minister for rural development and other government functionaries.

Lastupdate on : Thu, 24 Jan 2013 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Thu, 24 Jan 2013 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Fri, 25 Jan 2013 00:00:00 IST