Scam surfaces in MGNREGS works

Adilabad: Large scale irregularities in providing tarpaulins, drinking water, first-aid kits to MGNREGS workers and extending them compensation to them in case of injury or death while on duty were alleged in Adilabad, Asifabad, Nirmal and Mancherial districts.

There are over five lakh job cards in the four districts with an average deployment of two lakh labour force per day. With mercury rising high with each passing day in the early summer month of March, workers are exposed to the hot Sun for want of shelter. There are no trees in the area as the land is barren. Also, there are no signs of tarpaulins which the officials are bound to provide to the workers.

Speaking to The Hans India here on Wednesday, a worker Rajamma poured out the problems of her fellow workers for want of shelter at the work place. Another worker Narsamma lamented that the workers were running the risk of contracting diseases working under hot sun while eking out their livelihood. The wages earned are sufficient to meet medical expenses of the workers.

According to official accounts, an amount of Rs 1.93 crore have been spent to provide shelter to over 35,183 groups, including 16,704 in Adilabad district, of workers in the four districts, but there are no signs of any tarpaulins pitched at the work place. A worker of Kodad Narsaiah, who held a job card since MGNREGS commencement, said he had never seen tarpaulins at the work place.

Suspecting something fishy, the MGNREGS workers have been demanding NREGS officials for proof. They alleged that the officials have been falsifying accounts in the name of workers without actually buying the tarpaulins. CITU leader Mallesam appealed to higher authorities for a probe into the ‘misappropriation of funds’.

The workers alleged misappropriation of Rs 10 lakh by field assistants, project officers and district officials on the pretext of providing drinking water to the workers. They seek action against the culprits who are swallowing government funds in the name of providing drinking water to NREGS workers.

In fact, MGNREGS workers are entitled to get an ORS packet daily. At the work place, there should be a medical kit containing bandage, cotton and other medicines. It was three years ago since medical kits were supplied to the workers.

The workers are running the risk of receiving sun stroke in summer. According to a worker Narayana, at least some of the 130 lives in the four districts would have been saved had there been medical kits. Further, he said the officials paid Rs 1 lakh as ex-gratia to the bereaved family members of 130 workers. The workers have been demanding the state government to increase the ex-gratia to Rs 10 lakh.

As there are no medical kits, the workers are forced to get themselves treated and the ex-gratia paid to workers in case of grievous injuries was just limited to Rs 37,500. The compensation was paid to only 153 in all four districts put together when workers in their hundreds got injured during the course of the work.

By Thotla Chinna Anjaiah​