Question : FAKE BENEFICIARIES UNDER MGNREGS

(a) whether the Government is aware that funds have been transferred online to the accounts of fake beneficiaries by the hackers under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS);

(b) if so, the details thereof and the amount involved therein, State/UT-wise;

(c) the action taken by the Government against the culprits;

(d) whether the Government suspects that more funds might have been moved out in the said malpractice; and

(e) if so, the details thereof and the corrective measures taken by the Government to check such irregularities?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT (SHRI SUDARSHAN BHAGAT)

(a) to(e):No, Madam. No such instance of hacking into the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act Soft Information Technology (NREGA soft IT) System has occurred. However instance of a fraudulent transfer of money by a computer operator working in the Block office, misusing the digital certificates of the officer authorized to operate the system, has been reported in Belpada Block, Bolangir District, Odisha. The culprit has been arrested and action is being taken under the relevant provisions of Indian Penal Code against the concerned by the Government of Odisha.

In view of this fraud, the security of the entire system has been reviewed and it is decided to make biometric authentication mandatory for all the persons entering the NREGASoft IT system.