'Only 6.4 per cent families reaped benefits of MGNREGS in Kodagu'

He said the MGNREGS has not been implemented effectively in the district. As many as 29,105 families were registered under the scheme in 2010-11. The scheme has failed to empower the gram panchayats and providing 100 days employment; he alleged and added that he will submit a complaint to the Ministry of Rural Development and Panchayat Raj on the failure of the scheme in the district.

Poovaiah said a look at the website www.nrega.nic.in, one will come to know the failures. About, 29,105 families were registered in 2010-11, of which, only 1,887 families were given 100 days employment. As per the rules, anyone who wants job can submit their application seeking job to the Gram Panchayat. The registered labourers must be given employment within 15 days. If there was any delay in providing job, then unemployment allowance must be paid. Unfortunately, in Kodagu no unemployment allowance was paid during the period. In 2010-11, about 5,614 works were undertaken in the district, of which, 1145 works have been completed. Every gram panchayat should convene two grama sabha for the effective implementation of the MGNREGS. However, majority of the GPs have failed in convening the meetings so far. The social audit is a must, which has not been carried out so far. Inspite of all the loopholes, of Rs 32.79 crore, a sum of Rs 29.93 crore has been utilised in the district, Poovaiah added.

He said as many as 1,690 families did not get the employment card. However, there were 8,666 fake employment cards in the district, which clearly shows that there were irregularities in issuing employment cards.About 1,724 families were given 15 days job in the district. The name of the labourers, and the work list does not match, he added.

No awareness
The district administration and the Zilla Panchayat has not utilised single paise for creating awareness on MGNREGS. No training was given to the implementing officers.