₹321.84 crore in MGNREGS wages unpaid in Jharkhand, CAG finds

This audit examined the implementation of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) and the Jal Jeevan Mission in Jharkhand for the period from April 2019 to March 2024.

Government of Jharkhand, specifically the MGNREGA Commissioner and the Jal Jeevan Mission implementation bodies.

• Outstanding wages of ₹321.84 crore to unskilled labour for the period 2019-20 to 2023-24 remained unpaid as of March 2025.
• ₹32.62 lakh was irregularly incurred on inadmissible items such as maintenance of old vehicles and salaries of functionaries in three test-checked districts.
• Only 27% of the 1,02,68,484 works proposed during 2019-24 were completed, while 49% remained incomplete after an expenditure of ₹2,633 crore.
• Funds for the scheme were released by the State Government with delays ranging between 40 and 55 days.
• Discrepancies were found between NREGASoft portal data and certified financial accounts.
• Mandatory records like Measurement Books and Muster Rolls were not maintained, and the NREGASoft portal lacked application controls to prevent payments without validated data.
• The Grievance Redressal Mechanism was ineffective, with complaints not disposed of in time, and Vigilance cells were not constituted.
• Recommendations include adopting a bottom-up approach for planning, minimizing wage payment delays, ensuring proper maintenance of work files, and strengthening accountability mechanisms.

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