Minister For Rural Development and NREGS D Manikya Varaprasad Rao, on Friday, admitted that irregularities amounting to Rs. 109 crore occurred in the implementation of Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MNREGS).
"Government has spent Rs. 17,000 crore for the implementation of the Employment Guarantee Scheme, which provides 100 days of employment to unskilled laborers within the last 6 years, but some irregularities were found," he told reporters at the Secretariat.
However, the government identified the lapses and recovered Rs. 18 crore, and has filed criminal cases against 658 of those who are responsible for the mismanagement of the funds, he said.
He said that stringent action will be taken against all the guilty officials.
Further, he said that the government has sent a proposal to the Centre to include agriculture in the scheme, because farmers are facing hurdles and migrating to other areas in search of employment. (INN)
filed in:D Manikya Vara Prasad Rao, Development Projects, Government Schemes, Employment