Tentulikhunti, Sept 16 [UDN}:: A block-level MGNREGA (Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act) Social Audit and Public Hearing Camp was organised at the Tentulikhunti Block premises in Nabarangpur district, focusing on transparency, accountability and proper implementation of employment and development works undertaken under the rural employment guarantee scheme.
District Chief Development Officer (CDO) Biranchi Narayan Darwan attended the programme as the chief guest. Zilla Parishad member Ratikanta Panda, Tentulikhunti Block Development Officer (BDO) Manoj Panigrahi, senior social worker and former Panchayat Samiti chairperson Narayan Patra, president of voluntary organisation ‘Bharasa’ L. Santosh Rao, and Soil Conservation Officer Mohan Rao, among others, were present on the dais.
During the social audit, official records and documents relating to the implementation of MGNREGA works across all panchayats under the block were scrutinised. The audit covered a six-month period from November 1, 2025, to March 2026. The exercise examined the execution of sanctioned works, expenditure, wage payments, participation of beneficiaries and the benefits reaching rural workers.
The meeting also discussed the objective of ensuring employment opportunities for rural labourers under MGNREGA, including the provision of up to 100 days of guaranteed wage employment, while exploring ways to enable eligible beneficiaries to receive employment for more days wherever permissible under the scheme.
According to the report prepared by the Village Resource Persons and the Block Social Audit team, several irregularities were detected during the verification process. The audit reportedly found that ₹1,11,097 had been shown against the names of persons who had not actually worked, while another ₹31,668 was allegedly credited to ghost/fictitious accounts. The findings raised concerns over the authenticity of wage records and the monitoring of MGNREGA implementation at the grassroots level.
Addressing the gathering, CDO Biranchi Narayan Darwan said that strict action would be taken against irregularities identified through the social audit as well as complaints submitted by members of the public. He further stated that responsibility would be fixed on the officials and employees concerned and that wrongfully spent or misappropriated government funds would be recovered from those found responsible.
Senior social worker Narayan Patra highlighted the need for stronger supervision of development projects being implemented in the block. He expressed concern that inadequate monitoring was leading to negligence and deficiencies in some development works and stressed the importance of regular field-level inspections.
Zilla Parishad member Ratikanta Panda raised an environmental concern, pointing out that trees along roadsides had been felled at several locations in the course of development and construction activities. He called for large-scale plantation along roadsides to compensate for the loss of trees and to ensure that development activities do not adversely affect the local environment.
The public hearing provided beneficiaries and local residents with an opportunity to place their grievances, complaints and concerns directly before the officials. Participants raised issues relating to MGNREGA works, payments, employment opportunities and implementation of various development activities. Officials emphasised that appropriate steps would be taken to examine the complaints and resolve genuine grievances at the earliest.
Employees from different government departments were also present at the camp and responded to questions raised by the public regarding the social audit process and implementation of MGNREGA schemes. The hearing was aimed at strengthening public participation and ensuring greater transparency in the utilisation of public funds.
The programme was conducted by Tentulikhunti Block Social Auditor Aditya Kumar Bhuyan, who coordinated the proceedings and facilitated the presentation of the social audit findings.
The social audit and public hearing thus emerged as an important platform for reviewing MGNREGA implementation, identifying financial and procedural irregularities, fixing accountability and ensuring that the benefits of the rural employment programme reach genuine beneficiaries.
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