Jharkhand NREGA Watch, a network of organisations and individuals actively working on MGNREGA in the state, have detected irregularities in MGNREGA works with misuse of the national mobile monitoring system (NMMS) app at a block in West Singhbhum district.

A two-member team of Jharkhand NREGA Watch comprising convener James Herenz and Balram visited Golasai and Edelbera village under Asantalia panchayat of Sonua block in West Singhbhum on Wednesday as part of the fact-finding.

On Thursday, Herenz wrote a letter to MGNREGA Lokpal, West Singhbhum district.

“Muster roll numbers 798 and 946 have been generated for the construction of a 100 x 100 x 10 feet pond in Sanjay Gundua’s land in Golasai village, but no work has been done till the date of inspection. But mate (word used for site supervisor) is uploading photographs through the NMMS app in a fake manner, registering attendance. This act is being done by John Gundua, son of Girendra Gundua,” the letter states.

“Out of the nine workers whose names are mentioned in the muster roll, none of the labourers have job cards at the site. They go to the pond only to click pictures, while workers in Edalbera village informed that they were working on verbal assurance from contractor John Gundua since April 25 on horticulture and fruit work in the one-acre land of Budhram Majhi. On checking, it was found that no muster roll has been generated for the said scheme during this period. Rather the muster roll was generated earlier, which was from April 11 to 24. But no work was done in that scheme during this period,” the letter alleges.

“On checking MGNREGA website online, it was found that a work demand application was registered in the name of Lakshmi Majhi alias Shano Majhi (job card number 2090) between April 22 and 28 for the construction of a goat shed on Harish Gagarai’s land in village Harimara. However, on enquiry,

“Lakshmi is not aware of any such work. It is clear that the gram panchayat in connivance with the contractorhas generated fake work demands in the name of Lakshmi Majhi and other workers and issued job cards,” the letter further alleges.

“In panchayats like Baljori, Bari, Devanbir, Govindpur, Sonapos of Sonua block, not even a single MGNREGA mate has been appointed by the panchayats in this financial year. This is a clear indication that MGNREGA schemes are being implemented in all those panchayats through contractors which is a violation of Section 21 of Schedule II of the MGNREGA 2005,” the letter informs.

The letter requests the Lokpal to ensure site inspection in the villages where irregularities have been cited through a concerned officer so that legal action can be initiated against the guilty.

MGNREGA activists have been staging a demonstration at Jantar Mantar in Delhi against the Centre’s move to make use of the NMMS app mandatory for the attendance of rural MGNREGA workers.