Corruption under MNREGA cannot be overlooked: Sonia Gandhi

New Delhi, Feb 3 (ANI): Asserting that corruption under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MNREGA) cannot be overlooked, Congress President Sonia Gandhi has said any complaints or irregularities related to scheme should be strictly addressed.

"In regard of this scheme, we cannot ignore the complaints of corruption and irregularities. Social audit is an effective tool and is being used in many states to ensure accountability of officials," Gandhi said here.

Emphasising that corruption in MNREGA scheme is an offense against poor, Gandhi said: "The corruption in MNREGA is a gross crime against the poor people. It is a travesty to the memory of Mahatma Gandhi as it named after him."

MGNREGA has empowered the destitute and backward sections in the rural areas, but at the same time admitted several shortcomings in its implementation and promised to rectify the same.

The objective of the scheme is to enhance the livelihood security of people in rural areas by assuring hundred days of wage-employment in a financial year to a rural household.

This scheme was introduced with an aim of improving the purchasing power of the rural people, whether or not they are below the poverty line. (ANI)