Shoddy MGNREGA show in Jharkhand

BOKARO: MGNREGA ombudsman Gurjeet Singh on Monday expressed concern over poor performance of the central scheme in the state. “Of the 32 lakh job card holders, there are 30,000 lucky people who have got 100-day work under the MGNREGA in this financial year, which is not even 1% of the number,” Singh said while talking to newsmen. Not providing work to villagers is not the only loss, but the state has also suffered loss in getting assets which will be built if jobs are provided to rest of the 31 lakh workers, he added.
In 2007-08, the state has spent Rs 2,236 crore in MGNREGA work but till now in 2011-12, the government spent Rs 875 crore. This shows the poor face of state in implementing MGNREGA work, Singh said. He, however, pointed out four main reasons which were affecting proper implementation of the MGNREGA work in districts — improper selection of work, villagers not getting work on demand, delay in wage payments and lack of work site facilities.