• Since panchayat elections were not held in Jharkhand due to litigations, Gram Sabhas were set up by Government staff. Some of them helped 23 villagers from Medi in Kanke block to float a committee whose members executed NREGA work on paper.

• Records in the Kanke BDO’s office show that last year the state Government started 269 projects under NREGA. None of the projects were completed. Dreze said the performance of the state was better this year in comparison to last year. “Things will improve if people are conscious of their rights,” he said.

When The Indian Express approached State Commissioner (NREGA) Shailesh Singh, he said efforts were being made to speed up implementation of the scheme. Also, the state Government had decided to form a separate secretariat under Singh’s command.

However, Ranjit Roy, a school teacher who had participated in the social audit carried out by Dreze’s team, criticised the state Government. “Instead of the people jobs, the parallel bureaucracy in NREGA will consume public funds for its own upkeep, leaving little for asset creation and providing jobs for the poor.”