Minister admits misappropriation of funds in NREGS

HYDERABAD: Rural development minister V Vasanth Kumar on Wednesday admitted that huge amounts of funds were misappropriated by the officials in the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme.
The minister said this while replying to a question raised by Congress member P Kista Reddy, who pointed out that field officers in Medak district indulged in misappropriation of funds.In response, Vasanth Kumar said that a social audit taken up in 45 mandals in the district established that some field assistants, technical assistants, additional programme officers and computer operators had misappropriated the NREGS funds.
He said that disciplinary action was initiated against the guilty officials and two additional program officers, five technical assistants, three computer operators and 130 field officers were dismissed. Several other officials were suspended and an enquiry ordered.
The minister said that in the social audit, it was found that Rs 79.16 lakh was misappropriated of which an amount of Rs 26.77 lakh was recovered. He said that collectors were directed to depute one special officer in each district to check such irregularities. He also said orders were issued to ensure that MROs and the MDOs should check the muster rolls once in a week.
The TDP members demanded that a House committee be set up to inquire into the NREGS irregularities state wide, which the minister rejected. However, legislative affairs minister K Rosaiah said the government was taking action against the corrupt officials.