Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, August 26:
Even as the entire State is in a state of siege pondering on the bleak future that lies ahead, corruption and daylight robbery shows no sign of abating at numerous Government offices in Churachandpur district and have, in fact, appear to have scaled new heights if the number of complaints received is anything to go by.
According to informed sources, there is a 25 % cut imposed on all sanctioned money under SGRY-I schemes in the six blocks in Churachandpur district at the DC Office here.
It said that the money is deducted by some officials working under the DRDA project and the reason given is that there is word from above for the same.
The sources also added that there is a clear indication from the authorities in the office that the bill for the beneficiaries who agree to the cut will be pushed forward aggressively while those who refuse will be stalled.
The SGRY-I schemes are mainly for the construction of ring wells, shingling of link roads, culverts and IVR etc.
The 25% cut introduced is over and above the 5.6 % of the amount deducted as sales tax by the Government.
Some beneficiaries who talked to The Sangai Express expressed deep resentment over the unbearably high amount �extorted� at the DC office and said that it is impossible to execute the work after one-fourth of the amount is deducted as that is not the only cut for them.
A headmaster of a mission school in Singngat Sub division said that while the amount sanctioned for improving the approach road to the school is Rs.13,000, they got only Rs 7000 after all the cuts were deducted at all levels.
Another person said that the final bill for a scheme that he pursued was never passed after he protested against the proposed cut.
Another source said that while the norm is that the cheques will be paid to the beneficiaries through the implementing officer, now the amount is simply paid in cash directly without any reference to the implementing officers.
In another case, a student who is waiting for his Civil Services mains examination recently wrote a complaint letter to the Chief Secretary, Manipur after he was forced to pay Rs.50 to a Govt officer at the SDO office, CCpur for getting a certificate.
In his complaint letter submitted through the DC/ Ccpur, Lamkhanpau Tonsing from Central Lamka here alleged that when he went to the SDO Office here to get a � Hailing Certificate� which is to be signed by an SDC, he was told by an official that he would not sign is as he was recently posted to the office.
When he approached another official for the same purpose, the latter asked for Rs.50 for his signature and when questioned why, he simply replied that he will not put his signature without the money.