Close on the heels of its scathing criticism of National Rural Health Mission for inefficiency and incompetence, the CAG has come down with a heavy hand on yet another Central Government’s much hyped scheme, namely Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MNREGA) for Jammu district. Generally speaking, Jammu district being the seat of State administration for six months of winter, should have been ahead of all districts in executing and implementing all national development schemes of the Centre. The task was easier for the district administration for the reason that there is no paucity of funds for bringing various social and public interest schemes to completion within the stipulated time. Conversely, one of the problems, as has been pointed out by the CAG, is non-utilization of funds. This again speaks of inefficiency and incompetence of concerned functionaries who are charged with the responsibility of bringing the schemes to meaningful conclusion.
It is surprising that the vigour and tenacity, with which the State Government usually pursues acquiring of funds from various quarters in New Delhi, evaporate in thin air once the stage of implementing these schemes comes. Why are not responsible authorities able to monitor the implementation and progress of the schemes and remove the bottlenecks if any? This gives rise to many questions and doubts. For example, if during 2007-11, 59,414 Job Card holders demanded jobs under the scheme but only 102 were provided, why were not the rest 59, 312 given un-employment allowance to which they were entitled under the provisions of the scheme? ACD Jammu’s argument that the concerned didn’t demand unemployment allowance has been rightly ridiculed by the CAG. At the same time, not maintaining proper Muster Roll record is a clear case of embezzlement and fraud. The CAG has found no records pertaining to MNREGA and no inspection of the completed works by the Rural Development Department. “Stock registers of Muster Rolls at block level indicating date of reception of Muster rolls from ACD office, date of issue of Muster Rolls, Muster Roll numbers, name of work for which Muster Rolls were issued, designation of official receiving Muster Rolls had not been maintained in six tested blocks of the district. No unique number was given to the works mentioned in the MRs”, the report has found.
The essential purpose of the scheme called MNREGA is to provide employment to the rural poor and deprived people… But the CAG report in respect of Jammu district gives a dismal and disheartening picture. It appears that the authorities have not tried to coordinate efforts of identifying work possibilities for the needy. The report says that the Rural Development Department has not ensured the creation of durable assets for strengthening livelihood of rural poor. This is a serious reflection on the department. The scheme was launched in Jammu district in 2007 to enhance livelihood security in rural areas by providing at least 100 days of guaranteed wage employment to every house hold whose adult members volunteer to do unskilled manual work. The records of the department indicate poor implementation of schemes under MNREGA so much so that “poor utilization of funds led to accumulation of unspent balance of Rs 16.14 crore at the end of March 2011”.
As we find it, CAG report on implementation of MNREGA scheme in the district of Jammu is fairly disappointing. It reveals that at the bottom level, there is incompetence and inefficiency ruling the roost and at higher levels there is apathy and lack of sense of duty. Officials are interested more in superfluities and personal perks and comforts rather than delivery. The poor are left to their fate while schemes that would have ameliorated their lot are taken very casually. Either there is some fundamental discrepancy in our educational system that produces a generation devoid of the spirit of service to the nation or that we are in the hands of utterly inefficient administrative structure that has failed to deliver. Administration seems to be paralyzed and unable to purge the structure of malevolent elements. Officialdom has burgeoned into monstrous complexity, self-aggrandizement and inefficiency. Corruption has assumed new ways and means. CAG report shockingly revels that NREGA funds were diverted against the guidelines. “The funds were diverted for payment of air fare between Jammu and Srinagar, hotel charges, telephone bills and wages to daily wagers.” The two reports from CAG in regard to Jammu district, one on NRHM (already commented upon in these columns) and the second on MNREGA are perhaps only the tip of the iceberg. The point is that observations of a constitutionally empowered authority like CAG have to be taken as corrective measures and guidelines and not anything to deride the administration. We know that it is easy to demand implementation of this or that scheme but actual implementation reveals the dimensions of the work and difficulties in the way. We expect the Government to take corrective measures and ensure efficient work culture in the administration.
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