MGNREGS Ombudsman settles 52 cases

Most of the complaints were lodged against delay, non payment of wages

All the cases have been disposed so far. According to the available reports, of the 52 cases, 31 cases were related to the delay in the payment of wages/non payment of wages, 14 complaints were on alleged misappropriation of funds, five pertained to denial of employment to job card holders and two were objections to the MGNREGS action plan at the Gram Panchayat level.

Speaking to Deccan Herald, Ombudsman Sheena Shetty said Rs 2,17,293 was recovered from erring officials have been credited to the state treasury. Of this amount Rs 1,94,293 was in connection with misuse of funds and the remaining amount Rs 23,000 was collected from the erring officials.

The fine was collected from 23 officers - - 10 Panchayat Development Officers, 12 Panchayat Secretaries and one Assistant Horticulture Officer.

“In Barya Gram Panchayat, the Panchayat official had prepared a cheque of Rs 26,750 for making a payment without carrying out any work under the scheme in the month of March. When complaint reached us, we went for spot investigation and realised that it was a bogus work,” he said.  

He said “Once the complaints on delay in paying wages are proved, then the concerned will be directed to pay the wage within one week or 15 days.”

He said the complaints were received against Balpa GP in Sullia, Bilinele, Mundoor, Shiradi, and Aithoor in Puttur taluk; Puduvettu, Maladi, Kolia, Nidle, Kaniyur, Bariya, Mithabagilu in Belthangady taluk; Kotekar, Konaje, Neermarga, Belvai, Mucchur,
Thenkamijar, Talapady, Paduperar and Kukkepadav in Mangalore taluk; Alike, Panjikal,  Sajipamooda, Perne, Kanyana, Karopady and Peruvai in Bantwal taluk.

Work not started

Of 203 Gram Panchayats in the district, 71 Gram Panchayats are yet to undertake work under MGNREGS. This include eight GPs in Bantwal taluk, 20 in Belthangady taluk, 13 in Mangalore taluk, 12 in Puttur taluk and 18 in Sullia taluk. A total of Rs 2,16,51,938 has been utilised under the scheme in 2011 so far.

Awareness

The Ombudsman has organised 123 awareness camps to create awareness on MGNREGS in the district in the last one year.

Display boards

As per the rules, the Gram Panchayats should have information boards with information on MGNREGS, to amount utilised and the labourers employed.

However, it is not been followed strictly. When the Ombudsman wrote a letter to all the Taluk Panchayat EOs directing them to take measures to display board on MGNREGS in all the GP premises, Puttur Taluk Panchayat EO has said that he has asked all the Gram Panchayat PDOs in his jurisdiction to take measures to install the display board in the Gram Panchayat building premises. In fact, the Puttur Taluk Panchayat premises has a model of display board on MGNREGS. According to the rules, there must be one social audit committee for every Gram Panchayat and one vigilance and monitoring committee for every village.

However, majority of these committees are not active in the district, says Ombudsman.