HL Impact: Ombudsman tells Govt to open MGNREGA complaint cell
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, May 31 2015 :
The Manipur government has started taking actions for the opening of a complaint cell to deal primarily with the complaints and threats to the MGNREGA beneficiaries in the state.
It may be recalled that in an exclusive report, this newspaper had exposed on May 9, 2015 the absence of a complaint cell in Manipur in connection with MGNREGA.
It was pointed out that the State Government has failed to establish the MGNREGA complaint cell in contravention of the memorandum issued by the Union Government on May 14, 2013 .
Section 27(2) of MGNREGA says that security cover should be given to the officials, complainants and whistle blowers in the implementation of the MGNREGA.
For unexplained reasons the government has been ignoring it despite the fact that there are numerous complaints of pressures and threats.
In accordance with the policy decision of the government Wahengbam Joykumar, Ombudsman, MGNREGA, wrote a letter on May 19, 2015 to the principal secretary, RD & PR to set up the complaint cell.
The letter mentions that there is a written complaint from 30 job card holders of Khurai Laishram Leikai Gram Panchayat alleging that they had been threatened to withdraw an award which is in payment of unemployment allowance under MGNREGA.
It was further alleged that new works are denied and the officials told them that it was due to their complaints.
Since such complaints have been received from many circles it was suggested that the cell may be opened as soon as possible.