Shortcomings create roadblock in release of 2nd installment
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Sept 17: In yet another testimony of non-performance, a State Level Selection Committee headed by Chief Secretary has failed to establish Social Audit Units under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme even after receiving repeated sharp criticism from the Union Government. Moreover, the panel is sleeping over issuance of selection list of Ombudsmen despite the fact that interviews were conducted nearly three months back.
In the meanwhile, because of non-compliance to the provisions of the scheme the Government of India has yet not released second installment under MGNREGA to Jammu and Kashmir for the current financial year.
The social audit helps in ensuring effective monitoring and analyzing the quality, durability and usefulness of the works and keeping this aspect in the mind a provision was kept under MNGREGA for establishment of Social Audit Units under the direct control of a separate Directorate to be called Directorate of Social Audit, official sources told EXCELSIOR.
Though MGNREGA was rolled out in Jammu and Kashmir more than 10 years back yet no serious attention was paid by the successive Governments towards establishment of Directorate of Social Audit despite receiving sharp criticism from the Union Rural Development Ministry a number of times.
Even the Comptroller and Auditor General of India in its report on MGNREGA tabled in the Parliament in the month of April last year had lambasted some States including Jammu and Kashmir for non-adherence to the provisions relating to social audit of the rural job flagship scheme, sources said.
After repeatedly receiving rap on knuckles, Government vide Order No.415-GAD dated March 31, 2017 constituted State Level Selection Committee for selection of Director, Social Audit (MGNREGA) and Resource Persons (Social Audit) at the State and Divisional levels for setting up the Social Audit Units as envisaged under Rule 4 of Mahatma Gandhi National Guarantee Audit of Scheme Rules, 2011.
The terms of the reference of the committee headed by Chief Secretary and comprising of Administrative Secretary of Rural Development Department, representative of Union Rural Development Ministry and a representative of civil society organization to be nominated by the Government was to recommend the selection of Director, Social Audit and Social Audit Experts.
“However, despite lapse of six months the committee has failed to accomplish the task assigned to it”, sources rued, adding “it seems that the Government has once again dumped the vital issue of social audit by framing this committee otherwise what was the hitch in completing the assigned task”.
Similarly, there is a provision for appointment of Ombudsmen under MGNREGA for redressal of grievances and disposal of complaints relating to implementation of this flagship scheme.
After waking up from deep slumber, the committee headed by Chief Secretary invited applications for appointment of 11 Ombudsmen (one for two districts) some months back. In response to the application a total of 74 candidates applied and 40 of them were shortlisted for interview.
“Though the interview of these 40 candidates was conducted more than three months back but till date the selection list has not been issued”, sources informed while expressing ignorance about the reasons behind dilly-dallying approach on the part of the selection committee and Rural Development Department.
It is pertinent to mention here that Ombudsmen have vital role to play in ensuring effective implementation of the flagship scheme. As per the instructions of the Union Rural Development Ministry, the Ombudsmen are required to receive complaints from NREGA workers and others vis-à-vis shortcomings in the implementation of scheme; consider such complaints and facilitate their disposal in accordance with law; issue directions for conducting spot investigation and lodge FIRs against the erring persons.
“It is not understandable as to how the Government can inordinately delay the appointment of those persons who otherwise have key role defined in the legislation itself”, sources remarked.
They disclosed that because of failure of the J&K Government to overcome shortcomings in the implementation of mechanism of flagship scheme the Government of India has yet not released 2nd installment under MGNREGA for the current financial year till date.
Actually, the Union Rural Development Ministry had released around Rs 600 crore at the start of current financial year but this amount was meant only for clearance of liability of previous financial year.
Disclosing that Government of India has made mid-term review mandatory for release of 2nd installment, sources said, “review of J&K was conducted few days back and some shortcomings were pointed out”, adding “now the release of 2nd installment depends upon the swiftness of the Government in overcoming shortcomings which also include delay in appointment of Ombudsmen and establishing of Social Audit Units”.
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