WE THE PEOPLE
Denial of 30% employment to women, execution of works without approval-utter violation of SGYR norms
Hence people urge Govt., to get guidelines implemented to Save State Exchequer from undergoing further losses
By: Zaina Khan
Srinagar: We have stated with a sense of high regret that data regarding employment opportunities having shown generated under Sampoorna Grameen Rozgar Yojana (SGRY) has been found fictitious. The Programme was launched with the objective of providing additional wage employment and food security to rural poor, besides creation of durable community, social and economic assets. The Food security to rural poor has allegedly not been ensured due to non-maintenance of proper ratio between payment of wages in cash and in kind in the form of food grains. The objective of creating durable community assets under the programme have allegedly suffered due to non-completion of priority works, blocking of funds, unfruitful investments, and diversion/misutilisation of funds and execution of works prohibited under the Programme.
It has surfaced from the examination of muster rolls pertaining to seven blocks that against 28,878 mandays actually generated from 107 works costing Rs. 42.45 lakh during 2002-06, the BDOs have reported generation of 40,984 mandays. Similarly, against the 44,731 mandays generated from another 106 works, costing Rs. 60.22 lakh during 2002-06, only 33,887 mandays were reported in the progress reports. These huge variations between actual mandays generated as per muster rolls vis-à-vis those communicated in the progress reports is indicative of fictitious reporting. Thus misappropriation of funds has been done beyond any shadow of doubt.
In BDO Bhadarwah, Rs. 4.41 lakh were paid for 3,773 mandays generated from 13 works during 2004-05. However, the payee's acknowledgement for disbursement of Rs. 4.31 lakh and attendance of the workers against the labour payment of Rs. 10,000 had not been recorded in the muster rolls.
In the annual progress report for the year 2005-06, BDO Ramnagar reported generation of 4,600 mandays on construction of a tanki to Kheen (cost: Rs. 0.20 lakh) without maintaing muster rolls. Keeping in view the minimum labour rate of Rs. 66 per manday during the year, the total payment worked out to Rs. 3.04 lakh and 4,600 mandays shown generated from the work were therefore unrealistic. Owing to non-maintenance of muter rolls, the Audit Party was unable to verify whether works were actually executed and whether dues were actually paid to the beneficiaries.
As per guidelines, efforts were to be made by programme implementing agencies to provide 30 per cent of the employment opportunities to women. However, in five test-checked districts for 122.17 lakh mandays generated during 2002-07 under the programme, women had not been provided employment and were deprived of 36.65 lakh person days. Three ACDs, respective BDOs as well as two Directors RDD attributed (September 2007) non-participation of women to their un-willingness to work as labourers as per the local traditions of these areas. Non-availing of employment opportunities was, however, reported through the progress reports submitted to GOI/State Government. But no action was taken in this regard.
The guidelines provided that the minimum wages fixed by the State authorities shall be paid to the skilled and unskilled labourers. Test check of 493 works executed in 12 blocks revealed that an amount of Rs. 28.93 lakh was paid during 2002-03 to 2005-06 in excess of the notified labour rates for 1.31 lakh mandays to various categories of workers engaged in execution of works. Payment made in excess of notified rates was neither reported to the GOI/State Government nor any approval was sought in this regard.
In order to ensure people's involvement in programme implementation, each SGRY work taken up for execution was to be approved by the resolution of the Dehi majlis/village committee. Scrutiny in nine blocks revealed that the resolutions of the Dehi Majlis/village level committee were not on record in respect of 231 works costing Rs. 123.73 lakh and 110 works costing Rs. 41.46 lakh.
Programme guidelines provided that the competent authorities as per rules of the State Government would accord administrative approval (AA) and technical sanction (TS) for the works under the AAP. However, in seven test-checked blocks, 34 works costing Rs. 83.60 lakh were executed during 2002-06 without AA. Likewise, in eight test-checked blocks, 42 works costing Rs. 117.74 lakh were executed during 2002-06 without TS. Reasons for not obtaining AA/TS were not stated. The BDOs admitted the omission and stated that sanction would be obtained. Director RDD, Jammu, stated (September 2007) that factual position is being verified and disciplinary action shall be initiated in all cases where the officers/officials are found guilty. Director RDD, Kashmir, intimated (September 2007) that action has already been taken against some BDOs and one BDO has been placed under suspension. Execution of works without AA and TS is fraught with risk of unauthorized expenditure, revision of estimates and cost and time over-runs.
Hence people urge Govt., to get guidelines implemented to Save State Exchequer from undergoing further losses and ensure employment is provided to women in future programms.
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