MGNREGS controversy: IPSA vows to take legal actions
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, May 07 2020: President of Indigenous People's Association of Kangleipak (IPAK), Ksh Somorendro has claimed that some 'mafias/gangs' were found misusing the bank accounts of public on studying the Social Information Report gathered by them over the MGNREGS controversy.

Speaking to media persons during a press meet held at IPAK office at Keishampat on Wednesday, Somorendro said that they will approach legal bodies to punish all involved in the unethical practice as per the law of the land and for that he sought support from both hills and valley dwellers.

Saying that IPAK had submitted a charter of demands to the State Government, such as verification of genuine job cardholders, ensuring at least 7-8 hours of work as per MGNREGS guidelines and cancelling job cards for those who withdrew money without any work by colluding with elected representatives, Somorendro appealed to the State Government to pay heed to their demands.

The MGNREGS works should be verified thoroughly by Block Officials and district engineers and approved by the Gram Sabha before implementation, he opined, adding that using machines in such works should also be banned completely.

The BDOs, DPCs and Bank officials should also give updated reports of the job cardholders in a specified time, it said and appealed to the DCs and BDOs concerned to direct Members, Pradhans, ZPs and others concerned to release the bank passbooks of job cardholders at the earliest, Somorendro said demanding that necessary actions should be initiated if the representatives failed to comply with the direction.

Further claiming that some elected representatives threaten job cardholders, Somorendro appealed to the State Government to look into this matter too and punish them as per law of the land if found guilty.

Furthermore, the Government should not let anyone misappropriate MGNREGS fund for 2020-21, he added.

A committee consisting of the District Magistrate, Vigilance and Anti-corruption Department and CID, along with SPs of Manipur Police and officials of RD&PR Directorate should be formed to investigate the MGNREGS controversy, he said demanding that legal action should be taken up against all persons involved, be it elected representatives, Bank staffers, Government officials and computer centres and CSCs at the earliest.

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