MGNREGS mismanagement allegation : RD & PR Dept sets record straight
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, March 05 2014 : Responding to allegations regarding alleged MGNREGS mismanagement, the Rural Development and Panchayati Raj department has clarified certain matters today.

Against a projected Labour Budget of Rs 1220.41 crore for 2013-14 which was calculated with the objective of providing 100 days of employment to 508506 households of the State, the Labour Budget agreed to by the Government of India was Rs 871.34 crore.

This amount of Rs 871.34 crore can be used to generate an average of 65 persondays per household in the financial year, according to a release issued by the Joint Secretary (RD&PR), Ningthoujam Geoffrey.

The Central Government has released an amount of Rs 186.00 crores thus far in 2013-14 to the State Employment Guarantee Fund (SEGF) which can generate 15 persondays per household on an average.

The State Government has also released an amount of Rs 36.37 crore by way of matching State Share for current year and as part of backlog State Share to the SEGF.

Rs 36.37 crore can generate approximately 3 persondays per household on an average.

Stating its fund release status, the statement said that out of an amount of Rs 222.37 crore received by the SEGF, Rs.220.82 crore has been released to the District Programme Coordinators of the districts.

This amount can generate approximately 18 persondays on an average per household under MGNREGS.

An amount of Rs 1.85 crore has been retained at the State level to meet the expenses of the MGNREGS State Monitoring Cell and the Manipur Social Audit Agency.

This is in accordance with Sate Government's standing instructions for earmarking 15% of the admissible 6% Administrative Expenses to meet the administrative expenses of MGNREGA Monitoring Cell.

Further, as per instructions of the Central Government, up to 1% Administrative Expenses can be used for social audit purposes.

The district wise release of fund is in accordance with the approved Labour Budget for each district, adjusted against each district's Opening Balance as on April 1, 2013.The amount received by districts in 2013-14 so far is Bishnupur-Rs 1209.89 lakh, Chandel - Rs 1933.15 lakh, Churachandpur - Rs 3963.64 lakh, Imphal East-Rs 2528.82 lakh, Imphal West- Rs 1390.03 lakh, Senapati- Rs 4649.20 lakh, Tamenglong -Rs 1740.11 lakh, Thoubal-Rs 1167.33 lakh and Ukhrul -Rs 3500.15 lakh, it said.

It further clarified that SEGF was set up in accordance with the provision of MNREG Act and in compliance with instructions from the Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India.

It further added that the department has apprised the matter to Union Minister for Rural Development at the level of Chief Minister seeking personal intervention of the former.

Concerns of the State Government have been placed in detail before the Secretary, MoRD at the level of Chief Secretary, Manipur.

State Government has sent a proposal for further release of fund to the State.

The proposal is under consideration of the Ministry of Rural Development.

State Government is in the process of releasing further fund for an amount of Rs.1061.49 lakh to districts by way of State Share/backlog State Share, it added.

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