
Man seriously hurt after speeding bike hits Nilgai in Chatra
Dangi, a Rojgar Sevak (responsible for implementing schemes under the MGNREGS), was returning to Pratappur block headquarters on his motorcycle when a nilgai emerged near Khajuria Dhodha bridge from the adjoining Baratpur forest. "The injury is serious and could lead to memory loss," Dr Kumar Sanjeev, medical officer of Pratappur community health centre where Dangi was initially brought before being admitted to sadar hospital, said.

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Indian Express
27-07-2025
- Indian Express
MGNREGS: Central teams find ‘financial misappropriation', ‘procedural gaps' in several states
Central teams, during their special visits to monitor the functioning of the Mahatma Gandhi National Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) in 23 states in the 2025-26 financial year, found financial misappropriation and procedural gaps in several states. The anomalies ranged from 'work not found or not commensurate with the expenditure' to 'use of labour displacing machinery' to 'bypassing' of National Mobile Monitoring System (NMMS), an initiative to record workers' attendance digitally, The Indian Express has learnt. It is learnt that the Ministry of Rural Development, the nodal ministry for the MGNREGS, flagged the issue during the first Performance Review Committee (PRC) meeting for the financial year 2025-26, which was held on July 14 and 15. The meeting was attended by top Central and state government officials. The ministry has shared the findings with the states concerned, but over half of them have not sent any reply or action taken report (ATRs) to the Centre on the findings, said a source. The states were Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and Uttarakhand, said a source, adding that 48 Central teams visited 21 districts across these states. During the review meeting, the ministry also shared major findings with them. The findings were grouped in three categories: financial misappropriation, procedural gaps, and lack of good governance initiatives in the implementation of the MGNREGS. In the financial misappropriation category, the major findings were 'work not found or not commensurate with the expenditure' and 'taking up non-permissible works/activities'. Besides, procedural gaps, including violation of procurement procedure, use of labour-displacing machinery, and bypassing of the National Mobile Monitoring System (NMMS) — a digital initiative introduced for recording attendance of MGNREGS workers– were also noted. The findings are significant given the steps taken by the Centre to bring transparency and efficiency in the implementation of the MG-NREGS. The ministry had made attendance through the NMMS mandatory with effect from January 1, 2023. Apart from marking of attendance through the NMMS, two time-stamped and geotagged photographs of the workers in a day are also required to be uploaded on the scheme's portal. By invoking Section 27 of the MGNREGA, 2005, the Centre had stopped the release of funds to West Bengal with effect from March 9, 2022, 'due to non-compliance of directives of the Central Government.' Since then, no work under the NREGS has taken place in the state. The MGNREGS was launched in 200 most backward rural districts of the country in 2006-07 and was extended to an additional 130 districts during 2007-08; and to the entire country from the financial year 2008-09. The scheme saw a spike in demand for work during 2020-21 when a record 7.55-crore rural families availed the scheme in the wake of Covid-19 outbreak. The scheme became a safety net for migrants who returned to their villages during the Covid-19 lockdown in 2020. Since then, the number of families working under the MGNREGS has gradually come down — 7.25 crore in 2021-22, 6.18 crore in 2022-23, 5.99 crore in 2023-24 and 5.79 crore in 2024-25. The last three financial years (2022-23 to 2024-25) do not include MGNREGS beneficiary figures for West Bengal, where the scheme has been suspended since March 2022). Harikishan Sharma, Senior Assistant Editor at The Indian Express' National Bureau, specializes in reporting on governance, policy, and data. He covers the Prime Minister's Office and pivotal central ministries, such as the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers' Welfare, Ministry of Cooperation, Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Ministry of Rural Development, and Ministry of Jal Shakti. His work primarily revolves around reporting and policy analysis. In addition to this, he authors a weekly column titled "STATE-ISTICALLY SPEAKING," which is prominently featured on The Indian Express website. In this column, he immerses readers in narratives deeply rooted in socio-economic, political, and electoral data, providing insightful perspectives on these critical aspects of governance and society. ... Read More


Time of India
16-07-2025
- Time of India
13 officials face axe in Garhwa for NREGS fraud
Garhwa: Thirteen govt employees, who were responsible for implementing the MGNREGS projects across various blocks of the district, now face action for financial irregularities. Deputy commissioner Dinesh Kumar Yadav on Wednesday discharged Rozgar sevaks Anil Kumar Yadav and Umesh Kumar, junior engineers Nitesh Kumar Singh, Rakesh Ranjan Ravi, Mukesh Dubey and computer operator Bablu Prasad from their duties. Six junior engineers others were transferred to other blocks while one panchayat secretary was suspended. The district administration said all the 13 were found involved in financial irregularities over the construction of dobhas (small pond) and wells in Dhurki and Ramkanda blocks. "Action was taken based on an enquiry report conducted by NREGA Lok Pal and complaints of the residents of these blocks," Yadav said. Garhwa: Thirteen govt employees, who were responsible for implementing the MGNREGS projects across various blocks of the district, now face action for financial irregularities. Deputy commissioner Dinesh Kumar Yadav on Wednesday discharged Rozgar sevaks Anil Kumar Yadav and Umesh Kumar, junior engineers Nitesh Kumar Singh, Rakesh Ranjan Ravi, Mukesh Dubey and computer operator Bablu Prasad from their duties. Six junior engineers others were transferred to other blocks while one panchayat secretary was suspended. The district administration said all the 13 were found involved in financial irregularities over the construction of dobhas (small pond) and wells in Dhurki and Ramkanda blocks. "Action was taken based on an enquiry report conducted by NREGA Lok Pal and complaints of the residents of these blocks," Yadav said.


Hans India
12-07-2025
- Hans India
Properties worth Rs 3.73 cr seized: Min Anitha
Paderu (ASR District): Minister Vangalapudi Anitha announced that properties worth Rs 3.73 crore have been seized from ganja cultivators and smugglers as part of the government's crackdown on illegal cannabis operations. She spoke as the chief guest at 'Chaitanyam 2025' conference held at Junior College Grounds in Paderu on Friday, aimed at achieving a ganja-free state. The Minister warned that even cultivating two ganja plants is a punishable offence, and those caught with ganja will be denied bail for six months. She said those convicted of cultivation or smuggling could face 10 to 20 years of imprisonment. Sharing insights from her recent visit to Visakhapatnam Central Jail, Minister Anitha said that out of 900 inmates imprisoned for ganja-related offences, 700 were tribal youth. She alleged that middlemen were misleading tribal farmers into ganja cultivation, exploiting their innocence. Referring to Alluri Sitarama Raju district as 'Andhra Ooty', she expressed concern that smugglers were misusing its pristine environment. She vowed to clamp down on all those encouraging ganja farming and emphasised that the government had launched a full-fledged war against ganja menace. District in-charge Minister and Tribal Welfare Minister Gummadi Sandhya Rani stated that the government is distributing two crore horticulture saplings to tribal farmers as an alternative to ganja. 'The Chief Minister is waging a sincere battle to protect the state from the ganja epidemic,' she said. She added that fruit saplings like sapota, mango, guava, jamun, lemon, jackfruit, custard apple, are being given to farmers as alternatives to cannabis. She reiterated the government's commitment to delivering welfare schemes to every household. District Collector AS Dinesh Kumar informed that under the MGNREGS, fruit orchards are being developed in 35,000 acres with a funding of Rs 54 crore, and coffee plantations would be expanded to one lakh acres over the next four years on the Chief Minister's instructions. He added that departments such as police, agriculture, horticulture, education, and health are working in coordination to eradicate ganja cultivation from the district. SP Amit Bardar said massive awareness campaigns are being carried out and that modern technology and drone surveillance have helped detect and eliminate ganja in 93 acres. He said 325 families involved in ganja cultivation have been identified and are being assisted with alternative crops. Awareness meetings were held in 1,631 villages, and strict monitoring of smuggling from Odisha is also being undertaken. On the occasion, dignitaries also distributed fruit saplings and millet seeds to farmers. Rampachodavaram MLA Miriyala Sirisha Devi, GCC Chairman Kidari Shravan Kumar, APSRTC Vizianagaram Regional Chairman Donnu Dora, Joint Collector Dr MJ Abhishek Gowda, Sub-Collector Saurya Maan Patel, Eagle SP Nagesh Babu, and others were present.