The CAG has found lack of proper monitoring mechanisms in the implementation of the MGNREGA schemes in the state.
The CAG report on local self-government institutions says that a performance audit of the implementation of the scheme in the state revealed non-preparation of district prospective plans resulting in lack of advance planning for identification of work to provide long-term employment. The report said that though the Government of India had laid down detailed mechanism to ensure public vigilance and transparency in each stage of implementation of the MGNREGA, the mechanisms to address the vulnerabilities with the regard to registration of households, distribution of cards, selection and allotment of works and payment of wages were either absent or deficient in the state.
It has also revealed that the primary objective of the scheme was defeated by collecting the applications for work collectively by area development societies as and when works were ready and jobs were provided collectively instead of providing them individually.
The technical support and supervision in the execution of works were observed only in Palakkad district.
Delays ranging from 16 to 193 days in payment of wages were noticed in majority of the test-checked grama panchayats, even though the workers were entitled to obtain wages within a fortnight of the date on which work was done. In Malappuram district, the total delayed payment amounted to Rs 73.06 crore during 2009-10 and 2011-12.
However, the CAG report has stated that an important objective of the MGNREGA that at least one-third of the beneficiaries are to be women has been achieved. More than 92.24 per cent of beneficiaries are women.
