(a) whether irregularities amounting to crores of Rupees in Bihar under Mahatma Gandhi National
Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) have come to the notice of Union Government;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the Government has ordered any inquiry into the matter;
(d) if so, the details thereof; and
(e) the corrective measures taken by the Government to check such irregularities in future?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT (SHRI PRADEEP JAIN `ADITYA`)
(a)to(e): The Ministry receives a number of complaints from States including Bihar on implementation of Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA). The complaints mainly relate to cases of job cards not provided, misappropriation of funds, engagement of contractors, forgery of muster roll, manipulation in job cards, underpayment
of wages, non-payment of wages, use of machinery, delay in payments, corruption and other irregularities. As implementation of the Act is vested with the States/UTs, all complaints received in the Ministry are forwarded to the State Governments concerned for taking appropriate action, including investigation, as per law. Review and monitoring of the programme implementation by independent monitoring, verification by the national level monitors, inspection by the members of
Central Employment Guarantee Council, State and District level vigilance committees along with Social audit, appointment
of ombudsman are steps taken to reduce complaints of corruption for the proper implementation of the programme by the
States. As per the provision in Section 27(2) of the MGNREGA, Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for dealing with
complaints has also been issued on 7th September, 2012 for strict compliance by the State Governments.