Giridih, Aug. 5: In the recent past, the district had performed poorly as far as the implementation of National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) was concerned. But this may soon change.

In the first quarter report, released this July, out of Rs 53.58 crore allotted for the current financial year, Rs 20.75 crore has been spent by the implementing agency District Rural and Development Authority (DRDA). The agency has achieved 39 per cent of the financial target set for the current fiscal.

While 4,060 schemes were allotted for the current year, 735 have been completed and 18 per cent of the financial target has been achieved.

So far, 22,856 cardholders have been given jobs. Around 63 families have been made part of the 100-day work package in the first four months of 2008-09.

This number is significant, as most districts of the state, have not been able to achieve the target in this category yet.

Chatra and Garwah could not even give one labourer 100 days of work while Jamtara, West Singhbhum, East Singhbhum, Godda, Dhanbad, Koderma could only provide 100 days of work to seven, 11, 14, 17, 18 and 23 households, respectively.

However, a year ago, the implementation of NREGA was poor in Giridih. From the then rural development secretary of Jharkhand Ashok Kumar Singh to chief minister Madhu Koda and Union rural development minister Raghuvansh Prasad Singh — all had expressed dissatisfaction over the implementation of NREGA in Giridih.

The three higher authorities had in fact “threatened” officials of dire consequences if the condition did not improve.

One block development officer of Bagoder and six panchayat sevaks were also suspended in the district for poor performance and irregularities and an FIR was lodged against three personnel for using machines instead of hiring labourers to complete the NREGA work.

“Clearly, since the past two years, the financial and physical achievement is very good and we will ensure that we meet our target this fiscal,” said the deputy development commissioner, Gauri Shankar Minz.

The social audit continues from July 22 to August 14. “If any irregularities are detected during the audit, we would take action against the people concerned,” Minz added.