Half of inspected MGNREGS sites in Bengal showed defects, says RTI reply

A set of RTI replies revealed that one of the key factors prompting the Union Rural Development Ministry’s decision was the inspection of 63 workplaces out of which non-compliance was reported in 31.

There are 3.4 crore registered MGNREGA workers in West Bengal. The Center bears 90% of the budget for MGNREGS which guarantees employment for up to 100 days in rural areas.

A series of RTIs filed by Chakradhar Buddha from the National Campaign for Right to Information shows that the Center has made three regional visits to the state – January 22-24, 2019, to East Vardhaman and Hooghly districts, March 2-28, 2022, to Malda district, and a third visit from April 14-18, 2022, in Hooghly, East Bardhaman and Darjeeling. A total of 63 workplaces were inspected by the central team out of which “32 were satisfactory and the remaining 31 were seriously deficient”.

Central teams widely reported these lapses in implementation – “breaking large works into small parcels to avoid layoffs”, “existing works were fraudulently done under MGNREGA”, “tendering norms were not followed in procurement of systems”, “works. not permitted under MGNREGA”, “Poor maintenance of files and records” and so on. in The Center also said that the state government filed late and unsatisfactory action reports after pointing out these mistakes.

There have been several disputes between the state government and the center after the funding was stopped. The state government has been criticized for its handling of the scheme, with allegations of corruption and mismanagement. In a petition filed by the Paschim Banga Khet Labor Samiti (PBKMS), the Calcutta High Court said the state government had written more than 20 letters to the Center since the funds were withheld but received information. No response.

On December 13, 2024, in response to a question put in the Rajya Sabha by Trinamool MP Saket Gokhale about the reason for withholding funds to West Bengal, the Union Ministry of Rural Development said, “Funds released under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural. Employment Guarantee of the State of West Bengal as per the provisions of Article 27 of Mahatma Gandhi The scheme has been discontinued with effect from March 9, 2022, due to non-compliance with the instructions of the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, 2005.”

Section 27 empowers the Center to stop the release of funds if irregularities are found in the implementation of the scheme. However, the section does not provide for the retention of funds indefinitely. It also said, “suitable remedial measures for its proper implementation within a reasonable time” should be taken.

On December 18, 2024, a delegation of the NREGA Sangharsh Morcha – a body of unions working with MGNREGA workers – met Union Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan who assured them of an early resolution. “We told Mr. Chauhan and the officials of the ministry that the workers are being punished for stealing MGNREGA funds by the officials, which is unfair. We hope it gets resolved soon,” said Anuradha Talwar of PBKMS.