Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, July 17 2009:
Asserting that the assured 100 days of work could not be ensured to the job card holders of Imphal West District as the fund had not been released in time, District Panchayat Parishad, Imphal West has blamed the Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Department for the failure in implementation of NREGS in Imphal West District successfully.
Addressing a press conference in this connection at Manipur Press Club here today, secretary of District Panchayat Parishad, Imphal West Ph Dineshwar pointed out that there are 41,834 job card holders under NRGES in Imphal West District but they have been given only for 68 days of work in 2008-09 as the Department had not provided sufficient fund.
So the remarks made by the Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Minister Md Allauddin Khan on the floor of the House that 100 days of work could not be ensured to the job cards holder due to the efficiency of the Gram Sabhas in carrying out their assigned works is ridiculous, Dineshwar said, adding that the fund had not been received as the Minister had not forwarded the necessary papers to the Central Government and exert pressure for releasing the fund in time.
The president of District Panchayat Parishad, Imphal West H Manihar, who was also present during the press conference further pointed out that the total amount of fund to be provided to Imphal West in 2008-09 including the wages for 100 days work for 41,834 job card holders, material components and administrative charges was Rs 59,02,49,850 .
Out of this the share of the Central Government was Rs 53,12,24,865 and that of the State Government was Rs 5,90,24,985.However, the Government of India had released only Rs 27,78,79,000 as its Central share for Imphal West district while the State share provided was Rs 9,89,000, Dineshwar further pointed out.
So the failure of releasing the fund in time as well as in adequate amount is at the root cause of failure in ensuring the stipulated 100 days of work to the job card holder, for which the Panchayats has nothing to do with, he added.