Ramesh asks Naveen to act on MGNREGA irregularities in Odisha

After releasing Rs 334.60 crore for MGNREGA in Odisha, Union Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh has asked Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik to rectify irregularities in implementation of the rural job scheme in the state.
"The CAG has submitted a performance audit of MGNREGA in Odisha. I hope that the observation made by the CAG and the recommendations contained in the performance audit will receive your personal consideration," Ramesh said in a letter to Patnaik, official sources said.
The Union Rural Development Minister also pointed out that participation of women in MGNREGA in the state is very low at 36 per cent whereas in a state like Rajasthan it is over 70 per cent.

Ramesh said he has received 14 complaints pertaining to serious irregularities in the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) scheme in Jajpur, Nuapada, Puri, Keonjhar, Jharusuguda and Sambalpur districts.
The Ministry of Rural Development was also awaiting action taken reports from Odisha authorities over 48 complaints received from 12 districts, he said in the letter.
"The action taken report is a system that we have adopted for all states and designed to bring greater accountability in the MGNREGA scheme," the minister said adding that despite clear instructions by the ministry, photographs of works being taken up under the scheme have not been uploaded on the website.

Odisha's Panchayati Raj minister Kalpataru Das, however, said that action will be certainly taken where required.