Social audit reveals irregularities in NREGA at Bhilwara

 
"In the social audit of NREGA at Bhilwara, rampant corruption and irregularities were found. Difference of rupees over one crore has been noticed and based on it 12 FIRs have been lodged in the district while as many are in the pipeline," Nikhil Dey, social activist associated with the audit, said today.

The audit was done by the state government with the help of a voluntary organisation and social activists.

"A number of irregularities in job cards and non-payment of compensation to families were found in the audit carried out by 135 teams of 15 members each from September 30 last," Aruna Roy, another activist said.

During the audit, due payments were also made. In Badliya village, due payment of a person named Dhanna was made from March 2008 to April 2009.

Roy said most of the FIRs lodged are for using earth movers and faulty materials in NREGA sites.

"Panchayats of Titori, Tasvariya, Para, Khachrol, Baran, Devariya, Sanghwa, Lakhola, Daabla Kachra, Badiyas and Govardhanpura were in question during the audit," she said.
After the social audit for NREGA, Alwar MP Bhanwar Jitendra Singh of Congress have asked the same for Alwar and State Health Minister Aimaduddin Khan proposed social audit in Medical and Health department.

The social audit was largest of its since the enactment of the NREGA in year 2005 with about 1,800 people, organised by the Government of Rajasthan and the Soocna Evum Rozgar Adhikar Abhiyan to monitor ongoing NREGA works.

For the audit, teams undertook a 'Padyatra' covering more than 381 Gram Panchayats comprising of 1,600 villages and 900 NREGA work sites were assessed during the audit.
"Detailed report of the audit will be submitted to Union Minister of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj C P Joshi and State Panchayati Raj Minister Bharat Singh soon, who are satisfied with the social audit," Nikhil Dey said.

It is an unique initiative by the state government to weed out corruption by involving people to monitor NREGA, he added.