Implementation of the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA), 2005, in Jharkhand has not been a simple process thanks to rampant corruption.

As per the NREGA, the state Government is to provide at least 100 days of guaranteed wage employment in every financial year to every household whose adult members volunteer to do unskilled manual work. As against an allotment of Rs 851.14 crore for the purpose, the state spent Rs 679.59 crore during 2006-7.

A year after the project was launched in 20 of the 22 districts of the state last February, volunteers of NREGA Watch (a coalition of organisations) led by Jean Dreze, former member of the National Advisory Council and one of the main advocates of the Act, held a social audit in four blocks—Mander, Khunti, Kanka and Angara of Ranchi district on May 16-19. During this period, volunteers—most of whom were from Delhi and Allahabad Universities—lived in villages, visited work sites, verified job cards and held meetings. The aim of the audit was to “empower people to fight corruption and defend their rights under the Act”.

The audit reports brought to light a series of omissions:

• Khunti: Construction of 750 wells were undertaken last year. None of the wells have been completed till date.

• Angara: More than 600 job cards meant for people had been lying with middlemen patronised by block officials.

• Mander: In five villages, 175 job card holders had submitted applications. Among them, 166 never got work.

• NREGA operational guideline states that the Government agency, which makes the payment, has to mention in the job card the number of days of employment and wages paid. Not a single job card has any amount listed. Attendance was forged in most job cards.

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