Quoting an independent report, deputy chairman of Planning Commission Montek Singh Ahluwalia lamented the UP government for letting the dalits of Bundelkhand to die of National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) mafia.
In a letter to UP chief minister Mayawati, a copy of which is with this newspaper, Mr Ahluwalia said, “There are reports of extensive malpractice at the implementation level with the NREGA workers not being paid for work done and also there are instance of fake entries in job cards. One such report, which is particularly disturbing, is by the Centre for Environment and Food Security entitled ‘Dalits of Bundelkhand: Living with Hunger and dying of NREGA Mafia’.” He also suggested the chief minister to obtain an independent report from her administration and correct the course in the worst draught-affected area of the state.
The deputy chairman also lamented the state government for its failure to provide jobs under the NREGA to the required number of BPL household, which is almost 10 per cent less than the required.
Noting that the UP ranks 27th in the list of all states and UTs on the Educational Index (EDI), Mr Ahluwalia said, the literacy rate in the state was 56.23 per cent in 2001 against the national average of 65.4 per cent.
Claiming that the health and demographic indicators of the state are lower than the national average, the letter said, “The Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) for UP is alarming. It is 67 against the national average of 53. Even the birth rate is high with 29.1 as against the all-India average of 22.8 and death rate is 8.4 as against the all India average of 7.4.”
Highlighting the regional disparity in the state and claiming it a great “cause of concern”, the deputy chairman reminded the chief minister the Central government had approved a special package of Rs 3,506 crores for drought mitigation schemes in Bundelkhand. “I would like to urge you to issue directions so that adequate funds for development of this region are also provided in the state plan. The issue was also highlighted by the Planning Commission during the last annual Plan discussion,” he emphasised.