Pawan Kalyan Alleges Corruption in MGNREGS, Promises Swift Action
In a strong statement in the Andhra Pradesh Assembly, Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan accused the previous YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) government of large-scale corruption in the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS). Speaking during the question-and-answer session, Kalyan revealed that official reports suggested a staggering ₹250 crore was misappropriated in the employment guarantee funds under the previous regime.
Kalyan informed the House that a social audit had been conducted across 564 mandals to probe the alleged irregularities. The audit, according to the Deputy Chief Minister, unveiled numerous discrepancies, including suspicious financial transactions. He alleged that a significant portion of the funds, intended for beneficiaries, had instead been diverted to intermediaries, leaving the rural workers who were meant to benefit from the scheme underserved.
Assuring the Assembly that the audit process would be expedited, Pawan Kalyan stated that the remaining mandals would be reviewed by the end of the month. He also outlined plans for a comprehensive review of all employment guarantee works across the state. The Deputy Chief Minister vowed that strict action would be taken against any officials found guilty of corruption.
Additionally, Kalyan addressed the issue of wage hikes for employment guarantee workers, clarifying that such decisions fall under the central government’s jurisdiction and were not within the state’s purview. He emphasized that the state government would introduce stringent measures to prevent such irregularities from recurring in the future, signaling a commitment to transparency and accountability in the implementation of welfare schemes.
