Jairam targets Maya on NREGS,wants CBI probe

Accusing the Mayawati government of “continuing inaction” in instances of “grave irregularities” in the implementation of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA),Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh has dared the state government to agree to a CBI investigation into the matter.

In a strongly worded letter to the Chief Minister,Ramesh pointed out that as many as 22 reports of National Level Monitors (NLMs),which brought out serious violations and embezzlement of funds,were pending for action from the state government. The state government,he said,had even ignored similar findings of its own officer — State Quality Monitor (SQM) — in at least four districts of the state.

“…the Union Ministry of Rural Development always has the option of stopping funds to Uttar Pradesh,either wholly or partially,for MGNREGA till credible action has been taken by the state government on the reports submitted by the NLMs and SQMs. But this would amount to penalising the poor people of the state for crime committed by officials at various levels and their political patrons,” Ramesh wrote in his letter. “The other option we have is to get a thorough CBI investigation conducted,for which I required the concurrence of the state government.”

“Surely,if the state government has nothing to hide and has a clear conscience,it should have no objection to our request to have a thorough CBI inquiry conducted into MGNREGA implementation in some districts of the state based on the findings of the NLMs and SQMs and the various media reports that have appeared. Such an inquiry would ensure and expedite justice to the weakest sections of society,” he wrote.

He said the need for a CBI probe was urgent since the labour budget for NREGA had exceeded Rs 5,000 crore in 2011-12 in Uttar Pradesh which,“incidentally,has all been borne by the central government”.

“The criminal conspiracies in these districts to defraud the central and state governments appear to be as scandalous as what has been the case with the National Rural Health Mission in the state which is the subject of an ongoing CBI investigation,” he said.

Ramesh said while some officials “appear to have been suspended” by the state government,there had been no action on the several other recommendations made by the NLMs and the SQM. “The signal that has gone out by the state government’s continuing inaction is clear — make money openly,flout all rules and procedures blatantly and nothing will happen to you if you have the patronage of the ruling establishment in the state.”