The alleged appeasement of sarpanches by the Ashok Gehlot government may continue. The committee set up to consider the demands of agitating sarpanches seeking material purchasing power, among other things, in MGNREGS might concede the demands "though in a fresh perspective."

According to sources, the committee which met on Wednesday, is working on a policy that would give sole right to the panchayats for issuing tenders for purchasing materials needed for MGNREGA work. The sarpanch would head the tender committee of the panchayat.

At present the state was following a system wherein all material purchases were being made at the block level for a cluster of panchayats. The system of separating the implementation and purchasing authority was evolved following detection through audits of large-scale anomalies being committed by sarpanches.
Though the new system might please the sarpanches and help keep frayed tempers in check but, sources point out, it would again give rise to frauds.

"The sarpanch is already bestowed with powers of deciding how much material is needed, to check if the quality of goods supplied meets expected standards and the authority to sign the cheque for payment. Now if he is to be even given the powers to issue tenders for the materials to be purchased, manipulation would become easy," sources say.

"If the sarpanch wants to buy goods for an amount, let us say Rs 140, he can easily tip off his relatives to fill in the tender for Rs 130 and thus help him get the bid. Later, the sarpanch can sign receipts of bigger consignment than actually supplied and help the relative make up for the losses," a source said.

"On the other hand if someone else other than the sarpanches relative submits a bid for Rs 120, since he has the right to decide on the quality of goods supplied, the consignment can be easily rejected on this ground. Thus, the new system, if adopted, will once again give unlimited powers to the sarpanch - giving birth to corruption," the source added.

The present system of purchasing material at the block level for a cluster of panchayats reduced the chances of such manipulation as there were more than one sarpanch involved, thus curbing frauds.

Though a final decision on the new system is yet to be taken and another meeting of the committee is scheduled for Friday, but sources say these meetings might just be an eyewash for the implementation of the new system.

Officials of the rural development department refused to go on quote or disclose anything on the proceedings of the meeting.

"It is just the first meeting of the committee that has been held. A final decision will be taken only after the committee submits its report," officials said.