JOIN USMPs upset with unspent NREGA funds
MPs H Viswanath and R Dhruvanarayan were upset with the taluk panchayat executive officers for not utilising the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme funds in spite of the Centre granting crores of rupees.
“What is your problem? When the Centre has sanctioned crores of rupees under the NREGA, why is it not being utilised,” asked the upset MPs.
Addressing the District Awareness and Vigilance Committee meeting organised at the Zilla Panchayat auditorium, here on Monday, Vishwanath taking to task K R Nagar taluk panchayat executive officer K Basavaraju said, “Even though crores of rupees are avalialbe you people are not performing task. In many places sub standard works are being done. There is misuse of funds. In spite of me personally inspecting these tasks no action has been taken so far. Do you come here to work or just to play.”
Basavaraju was at a loss of words to reply to this verbal assault. Viswanath more upset said, “Is knocking off NREGA funds more easy than palming off fake notes for you. Some one will ask if you are trying to pass of fake notes. But no one asks about NREGA funds?” he bitterly questioned him.
Investigation
Later, he told the zilla panchayat chief executive officer Dr Ajay Nagabushan, “In one week there must be an investigation about fund misuse and action must be taken. Disciplinary action must be taken against the executive officer.”
“Under the NREGA scheme Mysore district has utilised 32.6 per cent fund and stand in the 27th place. Chitradurga has used 86 per cent, Bagalkot 85.37 per cent and Bijapur district 85.69 per cent of the funds and stand far ahead.
The Centre is sanctioning crores of rupees funds. The grant the State Government is giving to the gram panchayat is not enough to pay the staff salaries.
In spite of this not spending the funds is a real disgrace,” said Dhruvanarayan.
“To start the Rajiv Gandhi Seva Kendras, the Centre is providing Rs 10 lakh grant to each gram panchayat. In spite of this in many gram panchayats Rajiv Gandhi Seva Kendra building have not been build. Has the State government asked not use these funds?” asked Vishwanath.
“Before January 2013 the work on the centres should start in 235 gram panchayats,” he added.
Reacting to this Ajay Nagabushan said “Last year out of 235 GPs the Rajiv Gandhi centres have been started in 45 GPs. The work will be taken up in the other centres at the earliest.”
Zilla Panchayat president Ka Pu Siddaveerappa and vice president Suchitra were present.