Congress suspects MGNREGS fund diversion
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, November 04 2022:
Expressing suspicion of the government diverting or utilising funds for MGNREGS in payment of salary for government employees, Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) has demanded the government to produce a whitepaper on utilisation of the Rs 756 crore fund sanctioned for the scheme.
Addressing a press meet at Congress Bhawan here on Friday, MPCC spokesperson advocate Ravi Khan said that taking up initiative for the welfare of public is the main objective of any government.
The so-called double-engine BJP government is claiming of effective governance but it has failed to release the payment of wages to job card holders under MGNREGS.
Though the scheme was introduced by the Congress government to provide jobs and livelihood support to poor people in rural areas, the present government is withholding wages of around 5.75 lakh beneficiaries amounting to Rs 756.49 crore since last year, he elaborated.
While pointing out that as per the guidelines of the scheme, funds meant for MGNREGS cannot be diverted or utilised for any other purposes, he reminded that the state government is required to pay additional interest at the rate of 12 per cent per annum if there is delay in releasing the fund, and demanded the government to produce a whitepaper on the utilisation of the fund.
The issue of pending MGNREGS wages is not new for PRIs across the state also rose against the government just before the recent state assembly election, recounted Rabi Khan.
Moreover, a minister recently gave the assurance of releasing Rs 150 crore soon, he pointed out, while terming it as outrageous.
The spokesperson also accused the government of withholding several crores of fund meant for old age pensioners, and termed it as a violation of the rights of the public.
Congress is bringing up the matter not because of being a political rival but for the sake of the public, he clarified.
The advocate further appealed to the organisations imposing blockade along the highway to withdraw their decision in the larger interest of the public.