← All questionsGS4 · 2025 · Case Studies — Public Sector ·MGNREGA Irregularities in a Panchayat (Case)
QUESTION 11
GS4
20 marks

You have been appointed as an Administrator Incharge of the District. You have been given the responsibility of monitoring MGNREGA work undertaken by various Gram Panchayats. You are also given the authority to give technical sanctions to all MGNREGA works. In one of the Panchayats in your jurisdiction, you notice that your predecessor has mismanaged the Program in terms of: (i) Money not disbursed to actual job-seekers. (ii) Muster Rolls of the Labourers not properly maintained. (iii) Mismatch between the work done and payments made. (iv) Payments made to fictitious persons. (v) Job Cards were given without looking into the need of person. (vi) Mismanagement of funds and to the extent of siphoning of funds. (vii) Approved works that never existed.(a) What is your reaction to the above situation and how do you restore the proper functioning of MGNREGA Program in this regard?(b) What actions would you initiate, to solve the various issues listed above?(c) How would you deal with the above situation?

WRITE IN
14 min
250 words

What the examiner wants

As district administrator, you find fake job cards, ghost works and siphoned funds in a panchayat. React, fix each problem, and decide how to handle it.

Case studyName the stakeholders and the issues, weigh the options, and say what you would do and why.

Demand-wise check

  1. 1(a) Reaction: treat it seriously; ensure workers get dues; restore trust; secure records≈65 words
  2. 2(b) Actions per issue: Aadhaar-based payments (ABPS), electronic muster (NMMS), geo-tagged works, delete fictitious job cards, social audit, recover money≈65 words
  3. 3(c) Handling: inquiry, FIR for fraud, disciplinary action, report to higher authorities, Gram Sabha meetings, grievance redress≈65 words

Open in about 30 words and close in about 30.

Answer plan

(a) reaction(b) action per listed issue(c) overall handlingConclusion

Where marks usually go

  • Not addressing the listed issues one by one
  • Only punishment, no restoration of the programme

Draw this

  • Table: issue (i)–(vii) → corrective tool

Value addition

  • SystemNational Mobile Monitoring System (NMMS) records geo-tagged attendance of MGNREGA workers.Ministry of Rural Development
  • LawSection 17 of MGNREGA requires Gram Sabha social audits of all works.MGNREGA, 2005

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