Biswajit makes surprise visit at MGNREGA work site
Source: The Sangai Express /

Imphal, September 01 2020: Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Minister Thongam Biswajit Singh, today, conducted an on the spot enquiry following reports in social media claiming irregularities in awarding man-days to job cardholders under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), at the Konthoujam Gram Panchayat.

Acting on a video posted on social media yesterday, the Minister made the surprise visit at the Konthoujam Assembly Constituency Gram Panchayat this morning.

In the video, a woman from Konthoujam Makha Leikai Ward No 5 claimed that she has to work alone for four man-days.

Biswajit makes surprise visit at MGNREGA work site

During the on the spot enquiry, the woman recounted her claims before the Minister and officials of the Department.

She apprised the Minister that the Ward Member had informed job-card holders that since the area is a containment zone, payments will be made for only 16 man-days when the allotted man-days is 20 .

She further said to the Minister that she couldn't agree with it and told the Member that she would work 20 man-days since her family has no other means of earning due to the present lockdown.

Following the claims made by the woman, the Minister gave a strong instruction to all officials concerned accompanying him to look into the matter on the spot.

During the enquiry, officials corroborated the woman's statement with documents and found that all other job-carders holders had given their signature to an agreement with the Member to work for only 16 out of the 20 man-days.

The woman alone had decided to work for the allotted 20 man-days.

Further, it came to light that the GRS concerned had also failed to take signatures of job-card holders for works executed earlier.

Following the findings, the Minister announced action against the officials concerned and to conduct a more detailed enquiry into the incident.

He said that anyone found doing wrong deliberately will not be spared and action will be taken at the earliest.

Speaking on the sidelines of the inspection, the Minister said that it is unfortunate that such an incident has occurred at a time when the Government is trying to enhance rural livelihood during the lockdown through proper implementation of the scheme in the State.

Further encouraging proper implementation of the scheme by following all proper guidelines and protocols, the Minister said that job-card holders can now focus on individual benefit schemes like plantation of lemon-grass, citronella, mushroom cultivation, animal farming, etc, under the MGNREGS.

These individual benefit schemes will ensure a sustainable future, he added.

Biswajit further urged all to ensure that such unwanted incidents are not repeated in the future and that all concerned work in unity to enhance rural livelihood through the scheme.

Today, the Central Government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been showing concern and encouragement for job-card holders to overcome the hardships due to the COVID-19 pandemic, he said.

Meanwhile, Biswajit feted the woman for her determination to work and provided her with an additional payment for 50 man-days as an act of encouragement.

The Mate of the Ward who highlighted the woman's issue before the Minister and authorities concerned were also lauded.

The Minister further urged the local youth clubs and Meira Paibis to continue cooperating and supporting the authorities for proper implementation of the scheme and highlight any grievance to the authorities through the official toll free number.

He said that the habit of sharing payments between the authorities and job-cardholders without executing actual work should be stopped at once, and that the remaining amount for the 4 man-days should be properly utilised.

He instructed the officials to ensure that those willing to work for the remaining four man-days are given work and that the remaining amount be utilised in the neighbouring ward.

The Minister also inspected works executed under the MGNREGS at Ahallup Bamdier Makha Leikai.