Women taking RTI help threatened
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, February 26 2011:
Four women who tried to extract information for implementation of work under MGNREGS within Pallel Gram Panchayat undrt Kakching block of Thoubal district were allegedly threatened by the officials concerned.
The four who reported received threats are Takhellambam Ongbi Ibempishak wife of T Ranjit, Konjengbam ongbi Anita wife of Shamugou, Sagolsem ongbi Memcha wife of Bimol and Mayanglambam Momon wife of Kullabidhu, all from Pallel Mamang Leikai.
They were allegedly threatened to catch, the four women said while briefing reporters at Macha Leima office, Palace gate today.
Ibempishak alleged that when job card holders were given for 31 days during 2008-09 and 2009-10, wages of only 22 days distributed.
Officials had collected all the job cards after four day of issuance of the same saying that they were ordered to re-collect the same.
Since then, despite their repeated request, the authority fails to distribute the job cards, he said.
When confusion surfaced in the mode of implementation of the flagship programme in the area, they went to the RTI for extracting information so that they could know the actual work implemented in the area.
While seeking the information in the application they submitted on September 20 last year, they also put down some questions which the reply is to be given by block development officer concerned.
Even after 30 days had passed, no information regarding the application could get which they were compelled to go to Chief Information Commissioner.
When the hearing of the complaint lodged by them was fixed on January 31 last, they were blocked by some gram panchayat members.
Later, using their forge signatures and obtaining signature of the pradhan, some people applied to the Chief Information Commissioner stating that they had withdrawn the application.
Unhappy with the development, they informed the CIC that they had not return back the application and requested for re-fixing the hearing date again.
Since then, they started receiving threats, they alleged.