8% wells dug under rural job scheme don’t exist: Study
STUDY SAID 76% OF RURAL JOB SCHEME WORKS WERE SUSPENDED DUE TO PAYMENT DELAY AND 20% ON TECHNICAL GROUNDS
RANCHI: Around 8% of wells dug under the MGNREGA (Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act) in Jharkhand do not exist and 12% are abandoned, according to a study sponsored by the Institute of Human Development.
The study said 76% of rural job scheme works were suspended due to delay in payment and 20% on technical grounds like rocks beneath the soil.
The research, conducted by Anjor Bhaskar (a postgraduate in economics from the University of Warwick) and Pankaj Yadav (a Delhi School of Economics alumni), also pointed out that left-wing extremism (LWE) held up construction work in the Palmu region.
The duo suggested constant monitoring of works while detailing their research findings on Wednesday.
Speaking on the occasion, rural development secretary NN Sinha said the government would bring down payment delay by 20%, emphasising convergence of agencies and departments as well as community involvement.
“Wells will help boost farm production in Jharkhand where cropping intensity is 1.15%.”
Former national advisory council member of the UPA government and socio-economic researcher Jean Dreze flagged concerns on 8% missing and 12% abandoned wells, saying the government should take steps to stop misuse of money.
He also expressed concern over centralised planning and top-down model of economy.
Union rural development additional secretary Amarjeet Sinha emphasised on plugging leakages and technical supervision. “Left-wing extremism is a only cover-up.”
Expressing worries over anomaly in the rainfall pattern, Sinha stressed planning and timely work execution. “Jharkhand has to dig up 1.15 lakh wells under MGNREGA,” he said.
Ranchi University economics department HoD Ramesh Sharan and Jawahar Mehta of MNREGA Watch also addressed the gathering.
IHD eastern centre director Harishwar Dayal welcomed the guests.