Cases of MGNREGA funds being siphoned off: Deshmukh

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Rural development minister Vilasrao Deshmukh on Wednesday said money allocated for the government’s flagship MGNREGA programme was being “siphoned off” and warned that CBI probe would have to be ordered wherever such allegations are noticed.

Deshmukh also said that on the direction of the Supreme Court, the CBI has already launched probe in two states — Orissa and Jharkhand — where irregularities were reported.

“As you are aware that CBI inquiry is initiated in some states regarding the Mahatma Gandhi NREGA works. I request you to be utmost careful in implementing this,” he said while inaugurating a two-day national conference of project directors of District Rural Development Agencies (DRDAs).

“Unfortunately, we had to initiate CBI enquiry against some of the districts. Complaints are coming especially on the corruption. Huge money we are giving to the rural poor but the money is siphoned off in different way. We have no option, but to initiate CBI enquiry,” he said.

Asking officials to “understand the seriousness of the issue”, the minister told them to avoid circumstances to have more CBI inquiry in future.

“My request to you all is: please be careful,” Deshmukh said.

Later, speaking to reporters, he said CBI probe has been launched in some districts of Jharkhand and Orissa.

“There are serious irregularities. Otherwise, CBI inquiry would not have been initiated,” he said.

“It is a serious issue that the money alloted to NREGA is not reaching to the rural poor, the real beneficiaries, and it being siphoned off by others,” Deshmukh said.