Jairam again shoots off letter to Maya on MGNREGA

Union rural development minister Jairam Ramesh has sent another letter to Uttar Pradesh chief minister Mayawati listing out irregularities in the implementation of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) scheme in the state.

Union rural development minister Jairam Ramesh has sent another letter to Uttar Pradesh chief minister Mayawati listing out irregularities in the implementation of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) scheme in the state.

The minister, in his letter, said the BSP government was not acting against those embezzling the MGNREGA funds.

In the 14-page letter, the minister also sought a CBI inquiry into the misuse of NREGA funds.

The fresh letter by Ramesh, which pointed out the "inefficiency of the state machinery in dealing with the corrupt", was sent on Monday when Congress general secretary launched poll campaign in the state.

HT Image

In the letter, Ramesh detailed several instances of alleged irregularities and corruption in the implementation of the MGNREGA scheme in Balrampur, Gonda, Mahoba, Sonbhadra, Kushinagar, Mirzapur and Sant Kabir Nagar districts.

Lamenting about inaction against the guilty, Ramesh told Mayawati,"If the state government wants to act honestly and send a message to the people that it does not, in anyway, want to save those who have looted funds from the schemes, then I feel that you should ask for a CBI probe (into the irregularities in implementing the scheme) in these districts."

Despite the announcement around 19 months ago that those guilty of committing irregularities will be brought to book, no action has been taken so far, Ramesh said.

Giving an example, the minister said no action had been taken against the chief development officer of Gonda. He claimed though the state government had announced his suspension, it was never clear if it was carried out.Reacting to the previous letter, Mayawati has written a letter to PM stating Ramesh's 'allegations' are politically motivated. The minister reiterated that his letters were not politically motivated.