MGNREGS 'fund misappropriation' row: Imphal West Zilla Parishad clarifies
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, April 06 2022:
Imphal West Zilla Parishad has clarified that it has not misappropriated the funds of Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) nor violated the guidelines of the scheme.
The above clarification was made by L Boby, Up-Adhakshya, Imphal West ZP while addressing a press meet held today at the office of Imphal West, ZP, Lamphelpat.
She went on to inform that the MGNREGS funds comprises of 60 percent of wages component and the remaining 40 percent is of material component.
Accordingly, Imphal West ZP has been following the above ration of 60:40 (wages componentmaterial component) strictly and has not sanctioned the funds violating the guidelines, she added.
She continued that a total of Rs 11,533.04 lakhs have been released from MGNREGS funds in seven phases from April 21, 2021 till February 23, 2022.She further informed that out of the total amount, Rs 7327.34 lakhs is of wages component while Rs 4205.7 lakh is the material component.
Regarding the expenditure of the above fund, L Boby said that as per the MIS report, Rs 6942.85 lakh and Rs 3941.9 lakh from wages and material component respectively have been spent amounting to Rs 10884.54 lakh as total expenditure till date.
Therefore Rs 384.49 lakh from wages component and Rs 264.01 lakh from material component are still to be used, she stated.
She also stressed on the hardships of the Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) members who have been working under MGNREGS by creating liabilities in the interest of the general public.
The PRIs members have also resorted to various forms of protest since the Government failed to release the MGNREGS funds at the appropriate time though it has been sanctioned by the Centre, she added.
L Boby expressed dismay over the wrong allegations of misappropriation of funds of MGNREGS raised on Imphal West ZP though they have been working earnestly despite the numerous hurdles.
Adhakshya RK Taruni, Zilla Parishad members and Pradhans were also present at the press meet.