CAG Report Reveals Maharashtra's MGNREGS Project Completion at Just 52.8%
Synopsis
A recent CAG report highlights significant gaps in the implementation of the MGNREGS in Maharashtra, revealing that only 52.81% of approved projects have been completed. The findings raise concerns over fund allocation, project initiation delays, and inadequate social audits.
Key Takeaways
Only 52.81% of MGNREGS projects in Maharashtra were completed.
Rs 6,725.65 crore was spent on completed works, while Rs 5,361.02 crore went to unfinished projects.
Approximately 7.10 lakh projects had not begun by March 2025.
Only Rs 2,268 of Rs 34.85 lakh due as unemployment allowance was paid.
Deficiencies in social audits ranged from 72.43% to 95.67% .
Mumbai, March 25 (NationPress) According to a report by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG), only 52.81 percent of the 25.72 lakh projects sanctioned under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) in Maharashtra from 2019-20 to 2023-24 have been completed.
The findings, presented to the state legislature on Wednesday, revealed that Rs 6,725.65 crore was expended on the completed projects during this timeframe, while Rs 5,361.02 crore was allocated to works that remain unfinished.
By March 2025, approximately 7.10 lakh projects had yet to commence, with 2.48 lakh projects—about 35 percent—remaining untouched for over three years.
Among the 5.03 lakh incomplete works, 1.07 lakh (or 21 percent) have been pending for more than three years.
As stipulated in Para 14 of Schedule III of MGNREGS, work must be offered within 15 days from the date of demand registration or from the date work has been requested in advance, whichever is later.
If work is not provided within the designated time, registered households are entitled to receive an unemployment allowance, as highlighted in the report.
The audit noted that out of Rs 34.85 lakh owed as unemployment benefits from 2019-20 to 2023-24 in the state, only Rs 2,268 was disbursed, leaving Rs 34.83 lakh unpaid.
The CAG report pointed out significant deficiencies in the social audit of the undertaken works, with shortfalls ranging from 72.43 percent to 95.67 percent across gram panchayats from 2019-20 to 2023-24.
Of the Rs 11.22 crore to be recovered from 1,084 misappropriation cases identified by the Social Audit Unit during the same period, recovery actions for 314 cases amounting to Rs 4.44 crore are still pending.
In response, the Director of the Social Audit Unit (SAU) mentioned (June 2024) that the funds allocated by the Government of India for conducting social audits were less than one-third of the actual requirement for the year, leading to fewer audits than planned. This lack of funding from both the Government of India and the state government resulted in a shortage of resources for social audits, which are vital for ensuring accountability in the scheme’s implementation.
Moreover, the CAG highlighted that the Maharashtra State Employment Guarantee Council, responsible for overseeing the Act's implementation, has not convened regular meetings.
While a Director for State Quality Monitoring has been appointed at the state level for quality assurance of works, the position of State Quality Monitors (SQMs) for each district remains unfilled.
Point of View
The CAG's findings underscore critical deficiencies in the implementation of the MGNREGS in Maharashtra. The low completion rate of sanctioned projects raises serious questions about accountability and the effective use of public funds, highlighting the urgent need for reforms to ensure that rural employment programs fulfill their intended goals.
NationPress
11 May 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the CAG report say about MGNREGS in Maharashtra?
The CAG report indicates that only 52.81% of the 25.72 lakh approved works under MGNREGS were completed from 2019-20 to 2023-24, with significant funds still allocated to incomplete projects.
How much money was paid as unemployment allowance during the audit period?
Out of Rs 34.85 lakh due as unemployment allowance, only Rs 2,268 was paid, leaving Rs 34.83 lakh unpaid.
What issues did the CAG report highlight regarding social audits?
The report noted severe deficiencies in social audits, with shortfalls ranging from 72.43% to 95.67% across various gram panchayats.
What is the consequence of not providing work within the stipulated time?
If work is not provided within 15 days, registered households are entitled to receive an unemployment allowance.
What steps are being taken regarding quality monitoring of MGNREGS projects?
While a Director for State Quality Monitoring has been appointed, the positions of State Quality Monitors for each district remain unfilled.
