The case highlights corruption and mismanagement in the MGNREGA scheme, which was created to give rural households the Right to Work and dignity of labour. As District Administrator, my responsibility is to fix these irregularities and make the scheme transparent, fair, and beneficial for genuine workers.

(a) My Reaction and Restoring Proper Functioning
I would react with a sense of urgency and responsibility. Rural poor depend on this scheme for survival, and mismanagement of funds directly violates their right to livelihood. As Kantian ethics reminds us, people should never be treated as means to an end, but as ends in themselves.

To restore proper functioning, I would:

• Order an immediate audit of all pending and past works.
• Suspend or flag questionable payments until verification is complete.
• Ensure wages are directly transferred into verified accounts of genuine job card holders.
• Strengthen social audits and community participation in monitoring, in line with Gandhiji’s principle of Gram Swaraj.

(b) Actions to Address Specific Issues

• Money not disbursed to actual job-seekers: Cross-verify job card holders with Aadhaar and bank accounts, and release payments only after field verification.
• Muster rolls not maintained: Digitise muster rolls with biometric attendance to prevent tampering.
• Mismatch between work and payments: Introduce geo-tagging of works and third-party inspections.
• Payments to fictitious persons: Use Aadhaar-based authentication and direct benefit transfer (DBT) to eliminate ghost beneficiaries.
• Job cards issued without need assessment: Conduct Gram Sabha verification to ensure only genuine needy households are registered.
• Siphoning of funds: Involve vigilance committees and conduct regular audits by independent agencies.
• Non-existent approved works: Physical verification and use of satellite imagery to confirm the existence of projects.

(c) How I Would Deal with the Situation

• Balanced Approach: Fix accountability of errant officials without discouraging genuine Panchayat functionaries.
• Disciplinary Action: Take strict action against those responsible for fraud and misuse of funds.
• Capacity Building: Train Gram Panchayat staff in record-keeping, transparency, and financial management.
• Community Empowerment:

• • Conduct regular social audits under MGNREGA.
  • Use transparency walls in villages for public disclosure.
  • Organise grievance redressal camps to give workers a voice.
• Justice as Fairness (Rawls): Ensure disadvantaged rural labourers receive their rightful benefits.
• Ethical Leadership: Lead with integrity and openness, share audit results publicly, and engage civil society to restore trust.

Conclusion

The mismanagement of MGNREGA is not just financial malpractice but a moral betrayal of the poor. With strict monitoring, community participation, and transparency, the scheme can again serve its true aim of empowering rural households with dignity. As Mahatama Gandhi said, “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.” my role is to ensure resources reach rightful beneficiaries with justice and compassion.

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