Mishandling muddies MGNREGS works
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, August 22 2011:
Following charges and counter charges between Pradhans and Members on one side and local job seekers on the other side over MGNREGS works and reported stalling of funds, an ugly situation has erupted at Keirak in Thoubal district.
RTI and social activist B Prem Sharma said that 12 villagers of Keirak submitted an application to Keirak GP Pradhan Khuraijam seeking jobs under MGNREGS but the Pradhan rejected their application.
Even as similar applications were submitted again and again, Ibochou put off the matter using one excuse or another.
Subsequently, the job seekers filed a complaint to the concerned Ombudsman.
Notably, it is laid down in the scheme's guideline that if the authority cannot give jobs to job seekers even after 15 days of their application, the job seekers should be given unemployment allowance.
Even as the matter was transferred to the relevant BDO by the Ombudsman, the job seekers have not been given jobs nor unemployment allowance.
Later, the job seekers filed a complaint through RTI to the State Information Commission.
After four rounds of hearing, the Commission instructed the Ombudsman to provide what the job-seekers have been demanding.
The Ombudsman, in turn, instructed the Kakching BDO to hold back all MGNREGS fund for Keirak Gram Panchayat until the job seekers are given unemployment allowance.
The BDO then summoned the Pradhan and Panchayat Secretary and told them that further fund release has been ceased until the job seekers are given unemployment allowance, conveyed Prem Sharma.
According to the guidelines, each complainant should get unemployment allowance of Rs 2645.50 for 80 days.
But the same amount has not been given till date.
In the meantime, the Panchayat convened a public meeting on August 18 and misinformed the people that the 12 job seekers have stalled fund release to the Gram Panchayat.
Moreover, one Thongam Sushila Devi (42) was assaulted by the crowd at the meeting venue.
Many speakers even suggested to torch the houses of the 12 complainants if they do not pay for the Rs 20 lakhs which the GP should receive as MGNREGS fund.
But when Kakching police summoned both the parties and took their statements, all the falsities done by the Pradhan were exposed.
After this, the Pradhan has been misinforming the public that the 12 job seekers have apologised and that MGNREGS works have resumed, Prem added.