Central funds sanctioned, but no jobs under MGNREGS
Monday, 12/05/2014
http://www.tribuneindia.com/2014/20140512/punjab.htm#11
Abohar : The Centre has sanctioned Rs 107.32 crore as grant-in-aid to the Punjab Government under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) for this financial year, but the state has not arranged jobs for card holders so far.
KK Tripathy, MGNREGS director, has directed the state government to transfer the funds, along with the state’s share, to the State Employment Guarantee Fund within three days. “In case the funds are not transferred within three days, the Centre may be forced to stop further release of funds,” he said, adding that the state government would be liable to pay interest at 12 per cent for the period of delay beyond the specified period.
The central government has said that the material component, including wages of skilled and semi-skilled labour, will not exceed 40 per cent at the gram panchayat level, and implementing agencies at the block level. The Centre contributes 75 per cent of the material component, while the state fills in with for the rest.
Lambasting the state over the issue, Congress Legislative Party (CLP) Leader Sunil Jakhar said Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal had assured MNREGA workers during the election campaign that 100 days of work would be provided to them, besides releasing wages within the stipulated period.
“The election code of conduct is no hindrance in transferring the funds to the department concerned, but instructions have not been followed so far,” he said. Villages, the Ferozepur candidate said, were waiting for funds to carry out development works, but the cash-strapped state government had not thought it fit to utilise the funds available under MGNREGS.
“The state has used 30.71 per cent of funds against the provision of 25 per cent on the purchase of material, which smacks of corruption,” he said.
The CLP Leader urged Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal to bring “corrupt officers” to book for the last year’s bungling in the MNREGS funds.
Govt faces penalty
The Centre has sanctioned ~107.32 crore as grant-in-aid to the Punjab Government under the MGNREGS for this financial year.
KK Tripathy, MGNREGS director, has directed the state government to transfer the funds, along with the state’s share, to the State Employment Guarantee Fund within three days.
In case the funds are not transferred within three days, the Centre may stop the further release of funds, he says, adding that the state government will be liable to pay interest at 12 per cent for the period of delay.
Sunil Jakhar, CLP leaderDeputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal had assured MNREGA workers during the election campaign that 100 days of work would be provided to them, besides releasing wages within the stipulated period.
