Govt Will Probe Rs 13,000 Crore Fund Diversion by YSRC Govt: PK

Vijayawada: Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan has promised the state assembly that the government will take stringent steps against irregularities in the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme.

“The scheme was poorly managed by the YSRC government. As high as Rs 13,000 crore funds meant for the scheme was diverted/misappropriated in the last five years. A thorough investigation will be conducted into the distribution of job cards and the extent of work done,” he said.

Responding to concerns raised by members, Kalyan said the previous administration had wreaked havoc in the scheme’s implementation, leading to significant fund misallocations. “We will investigate all the allegations of corruption related to job card distribution,” he said.

The deputy CM explained that the Employment Guarantee Scheme was demand-driven and it aimed to provide 100 days of work for unskilled workers. Job cards are being issued to newly registered candidates under the NREGA, and those who do not receive 100 days of work will be compensated with 15 days' wages.”

He asserted that necessary action will be taken against irregularities.

Kalyan acknowledged the assembly members' concerns and stated that Rs 4,500 crore in funds for wages and materials had been allocated. “From this, the Jagan-led government had diverted Rs 13,000 crore. Where it went, we are yet to find out. Officials must investigate the matter thoroughly.”

He called for linking agricultural work with the national rural employment guarantee scheme and sought the inclusion of graveyard maintenance in the scheme’s framework.

Pawan said, “If local MLAs deem it necessary, urgent drainage cleanup tasks could be initiated by distributor committees. Plans are on to integrate work at crematoriums with the employment guarantee framework. There are possibilities of establishing boundary walls for cemeteries after school compound walls are built.”

Facilities such as drinking water and health care would be provided for the employment guarantee workers, he said.

Chilakaluripet MLA Prattipati Pulla Rao expressed concern that the previous government mismanaged programmes meant for the poor. He said, while Rs 351 crore had been paid to scheme members after the present government came to power, there were reports of suicides among 50 individuals due to joblessness.

He called for the merger of graveyard work with employment guarantee jobs.

MLA Sriram Tataiah of Jaggaiahpet discussed various irregularities in job card distribution, saying these had been improperly issued to children attending colleges and to inmates of jails.