MNREGA funds: Centre asks UP to address implementation issues

In a letter to Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh has pointed to the poor utilisation of funds lying with the state and said the Centre could release more amount provided it addresses issues of implementation of the ambitious programme.

"The monsoons have delayed this year. This may spike up the demand for wage based works under MNREGA. The Ministry can release more funds to the state in the current financial year ...But for the critical, institutional and programmatic implementation issues under the scheme preventing the release," the Minister said in his letter.

"There are 362 complaints of general and VIP category where ATRs (Action Taken Reports) are still awaited from the state, out of these 118 are more than one year old," Ramesh said seeking Akhilesh's personal intervention in addressing the issues.

In addition to having an opening balance of Rs 1468.98 crores, as per Management Information System (MIS) the state has utilised only 9.65 per cent of the available funds, he said.

Noting that there was "huge difference in the opening balance and closing balance" of MNREGA funds in the state, he asked the Chief Minister to set up Social Audit Unit at the earliest in accordance with the Audit of Schemes Rules, 2011.

The opening balance with the state as on April 1, was 1468.98 crores and the Rural Development Ministry in May has released the first instalment of Rs 700 Crore to Uttar Pradesh which is 50 per cent of the central share for first six months (upto September) for current financial year.

Ramesh has also assured his Ministry's "fullest support" to the state Government to provide job to an anticipated labour demand of 33.94 crore person-days under the scheme.

This translates into Central share of Rs. 6789.85 crores.