Bangalore: Deletion of 10 Lac Bogus Job Cards Saves Rs 3.73 Crore
From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore
Bangalore, Jan 17: Deletion of as many as 10 lac bogus job cards and stricter implementation of the guidelines in impelementation of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Emplpoyee Guarantee Act (MNREGA) in all the Legislative Assembly Constituencies of Karnataka has helped in a saving of Rs 3.73 crore.
The IndiaGoverns Research Institute, in its report submitted to the State Government said, a sum of Rs 12.84 crore was the average amount spent in rural assembly segments in 2009-10 and it declined to Rs 9.11 crore in 2010-11 under the job scheme, thereby ensuring a savings of at least Rs 3.73 crore.
The Karnataka Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister Jagadish Shettar, who spoke to reporters in Banagalore on Tuesday, said the Department eliminated over 10 lac bogus job cards issued to families in rural parts of the State after close scrutiny by gram panchayat officials.
The number of cards issued declined from 62 lac in 2009-2010 to 52 lac in 2010-11.
Further, the State Government suspended and booked cases against several officials on charges of fraud in the purchase and distribution of materials under the MNREGA.
In fact, seven executive officers were suspended in Mandya district alone for indulging in irregularities during the last six months, the minister said.
Availability of higher paying jobs in other industries, plantations in the malnad region and the lack of awareness among rural poor had a telling impact on the execution of the scheme aimed at providing work for 100 days a year to each job seeker, he said.
Noting that the average assembly spending in Dakshina Kannada, Udupi and malnad districts was low on account of availability of work in other industries and low wages under the job scheme, Shettar there was no discrimination in the release of funds on party lines to Assembly constituencies.
The funds have been released to gram panchayats according to their demands and number of job cards issued.
A sum of Rs 251 crore had been spent in 2006-07, Rs 236 crore in 2007-08, Rs 357 crore in 2008-09, Rs 2216 crore in 2009-10, Rs 1860 crore in 2010-11 and Rs 1120 crore as on December 2011.
The department has set a target at Rs 2000 crore in 2011-12, Shettar added.