The Centre today warned the States and Union Territories that it could withheld assistance for MNREGA works if prompt measures are not taken against defaulters and law-breakers in the flagship rural job assurance scheme of the UPA.

“If the Centre directs the States to take steps for implementation of provisions of the Act and the latter do not respond by prompt action against persons responsible for default and violations of law, then the Centre, if needed, may stop release of funds,” an official of the Rural Development Ministry said here.

Then, the liability for funding the scheme or payment of unemployment allowance during the period shall be with the State government, he added.

The instructions have been issued in the wake of review and monitoring of MNREGA in the States and the field level visits of officials from the Ministry, Members of Central Employment Guarantee Council (CGEC), National Level Monitors (NLMs), audit teams and media reports which have revealed anomalies in the implementation.

The States have been told that complaints received from independent sources will be enquired into by the government and in case there is prima facie case for further investigation, a proper statement of charges will be framed and sent to the respective State government for inquiry and response within a period of two weeks.

The MoRD instruction says that once the report is received, a screening committee will examine it and in case the report is not found satisfactory it would get the charges investigated by the CBI (where criminal intent is prima facie established) or by a team of officers of the Ministry, where system failure or non-criminal lapse seems to be the case.

“In case of a CBI probe, the states should transfer the accused officers out of the areas of operation of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGA). In case the state government does not comply, The release of funds will be stopped,” the official said.

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