MGNREGS funds swindled : Job-card holders
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, July 20 2012:
The Job-Card Holders' Welfare Committee (JCHWC) of Khonghampat Mayai Leikai has accused its Pradhan Haobijam Manihar and eight Ward Members for swindling MGNREGS funds without ever executing any work for which the funds were sanctioned/released.
This was discovered when JCHWC secretary Leishangthem Pratap filed an application under RTI Act to the DRDA Executive Director/State Public Information Officer, Imphal West seeking detailed information about work programmes and funds sanctioned for Khonghampat Gram Panchayat for the period 2008-12 .
The SPIO's response to the application revealed that 47 work programmes were sanctioned for Khonghampat GP .
Speaking to media persons at Manipur Press Club here today, JCHWC president Irom Manihar said that out of the 47 work programmes, six programmes whose total sanctioned amount was Rs 49,03,476 were never implemented while seven others (whose total sanctioned amount was Rs 30,04,053) were abandoned incomplete.
In addition, another amount of Rs 46,15,262 was also withdrawn from the 12th and 13th Finance Commission Award without ever executing any work.
In total, Rs 1,25,22,791 has been swindled or misused by the Pradhan in cahoot with his cohorts, alleged Manihar.
Urging upon the relevant authorities as well as the State Government to take up befitting action against the Pradhan and the eight Ward Members, the committee demanded that the swindled amount should be returned to the job-card holders and rightful beneficiaries at the earliest.
They also appealed to the Election Commission not to issue nomination form to the particular Pradhan and the Ward Members for the forthcoming Panchayat election.