₹50 lakh MGNREGA scam allegation sparks uproar in South 24 Pgs; Locals demand probe into missing projects

An alleged irregularity of over ₹50 lakh has surfaced in MGNREGA (100 days’ work) projects in Namkhana block of South 24 Parganas district. Under the 2021–22 financial year, expenditure was recorded for the construction of two buildings and a concrete road. However, local residents claim that the buildings do not exist and the road's quality does not match the reported cost.

As per details available on the central government’s portal, the projects included a building for women's self-help groups, a foodgrain storage facility, and a concrete road inside the Namkhana BDO office premises. The total recorded expenditure for these works exceeds ₹50 lakh. Local resident Snehashish Giri stated that none of these projects are visible at the site and submitted a written complaint to the District Magistrate of South 24 Parganas.

Allegations have also been raised that the contractor assigned to the work and his wife both possess MGNREGA job cards and received wages for the same projects. No official action or investigation has been initiated in the two years since the projects were reported completed, according to the residents.

Shivprasad Pramanik, a member of the BJP’s Mathurapur organisational district committee, stated, “Yahi kaaran tha ki kendriya sarkar ne 100 din ka kaam band kar diya tha. Ab phir se yeh kaam shuru hone ke baad bhrashtachar bhi shuru ho gaya hai. Ismein prashasan se lekar ruling party ke neta tak shamil hain.” Former Panchayat Samiti Chairperson Kalpana Mali Mandal said no such projects were undertaken during her tenure. Current Panchayat Samiti Chairperson and TMC leader Abhishek Das responded, “Yeh dekhna hoga ki BDO office ke andar aisa koi kaam hua hai ya nahi. Ho sakta hai bhrashtachar Gujarat mein hua ho.”

Contractor Ashok Mali said he was unaware of the job card details and claimed he had not received payment for the work. Namkhana BDO Amit Sau said that if a complaint has been filed, an investigation will be conducted. He added that the matter is three years old and will be examined seriously.