<p>The Odisha government has decided to initiate action against two IAS officers for the alleged irregularities in the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) in the state.<br /><br /></p>.<p>According to the recommendation of the Central Bureau of Investigation, action will be taken against Mrinalini Darswal and J B Mishra. The officers had served as collectors of Nuapara district, one of the poorest districts in the country.<br /><br />The CBI had probed into the irregularities in implementation of the Centre’s flagship poverty eradication programme in six backward districts of Odisha following a directive from the Supreme Court.<br /><br />The state government’s decision to take action against the two senior officials has already been conveyed to the apex court through an affidavit.<br /><br />“We have already started proceedings to initiate action against the IAS officers and impose penalties on them as per the law,” state Panchayati Raj Minister Kalpataru Das told reporters here. <br /><br />Darswal, who is currently on central deputation, has been charged with diverting Rs 253 lakh from the MGNREGS funds for landscaping and develop a lawn at her residential office during her tenure as Nuapara collector. <br /><br />Mishra, who succeeded Darswal as Nuapara collector, has been charged with trying to cover up the irregularities. The officer is now serving as deputy secretary in a government department here.<br /><br />Apart from these two IAS officers, the government has also initiated action against 658 others, including both government and non-government officials.<br /></p>
<p>The Odisha government has decided to initiate action against two IAS officers for the alleged irregularities in the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) in the state.<br /><br /></p>.<p>According to the recommendation of the Central Bureau of Investigation, action will be taken against Mrinalini Darswal and J B Mishra. The officers had served as collectors of Nuapara district, one of the poorest districts in the country.<br /><br />The CBI had probed into the irregularities in implementation of the Centre’s flagship poverty eradication programme in six backward districts of Odisha following a directive from the Supreme Court.<br /><br />The state government’s decision to take action against the two senior officials has already been conveyed to the apex court through an affidavit.<br /><br />“We have already started proceedings to initiate action against the IAS officers and impose penalties on them as per the law,” state Panchayati Raj Minister Kalpataru Das told reporters here. <br /><br />Darswal, who is currently on central deputation, has been charged with diverting Rs 253 lakh from the MGNREGS funds for landscaping and develop a lawn at her residential office during her tenure as Nuapara collector. <br /><br />Mishra, who succeeded Darswal as Nuapara collector, has been charged with trying to cover up the irregularities. The officer is now serving as deputy secretary in a government department here.<br /><br />Apart from these two IAS officers, the government has also initiated action against 658 others, including both government and non-government officials.<br /></p>
