According to a work completion report of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), in Karnataka, close to 45 per cent of the total works started under the NREGA scheme since inception is still pending.
Of the total 10,95,815 works started, only 6,30,727 works have been completed with a work completion rate of 57.6 per cent. However, Ministry of Rural Development (MRD) has noted that actual work completion rates are higher than what is reflected in the Management Information System (MIS).
“While the low rate of completion may be on account of not updating the status in MIS. Though the work order would have been completed, until the payment is completed, it will reflect as pending in the MIS Hence the confusion,” Venkatesh , Joint Director (MGNREGA ), Rural Development and Panchayat Raj said.
However, the ministry has noted that there is still a need to regulate opening of new works by panchayats and line agencies and has issued orders accordingly to update MIS so that true figures are reflected in the public domain.
As the Standing Committee on Rural Development has expressed deep concern about the low work completion rate under MGNREGA.
Addressing this issue, several states, including Karnataka have suggested that opening of new works be regulated through NREGAsoft (MIS control).
It has been suggested that at the time of allocation of work when demanded, the system (NREGAsoft) should only show the list of incomplete works.
This will make it mandatory to assign workers first to works that are incomplete and then proceed to new works. The Ministry proposes to introduce this check in the MIS from October 15 and has issued orders on Septmber 3 to the state, to follow the procedure.
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