Village chairman blamed for non-payment of MGNREGS wages
Source: The Sangai Express

Jiribam, December 26 2014 : Villagers of Nungshekpunjee of Vangai Range Tribal Development Block, Tipaimukh Sub- division, Churachandpur dis-trict expressed their grievances on non- payment of Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) wages of card holder workers since 2013 and non- implementation of develop-ment work in the village.

Villagers told media persons here that in the fiscal year 2013-14, card holder labourers of MGNREGS had received the wages of rupees 2000 for the said fiscal years through village chairman L Thanga whereas the Government declared wages for 100 days in each year.

The villagers alleged that L Thanga who is also the village chairman had withdrawn the labourers' wages of MGNREGS and failed to disburse the amount to the workers properly.

Thereafter, Nungshek-punjee Development Commit- tee members reported that after repeated complaints to the authority concerned about the siphoning off of huge amount meant for MGNREGS by some of the vested interested authority of government and the chairman of the village, the government has not taken any necessary steps for the betterment of the villagers of Nungshekpunjee.

The members of Nungshekpunjee Development Committee also added that in 2012 under Gram Yojana scheme the State government had undertaken a road development work from Tuisen to Saikul-phai (9 km).

However, the assigned contractor worked on the site for just 7 days.

Speaking to mediapersons, president and secretary of Nungshekpunjee Development Committee, Zoram and Ramfang said that the villagers have been facing diffi- culties in every sphere while L Thanga has forgotten his responsibilities as the chairman of the village.

"The money which was sanctioned by the Government for the development or welfare of the village has been swindled by the chairman had without any knowledge of the villagers", the villagers added.

Further members of Nungshekpunjee Development Committee members also said that when they complained to the local MLA about the domineering activities of L Thanga, the MLA suggested the villagers to being compromised settlement with the chairman.

The villagers and Nungshekpunjee Development Committee members appealed to the authority concerned to consider the grievances and the injustice meted out to the villagers by the village chairman.

Meanwhile during a telephonic interview, L Thanga said the allegation of the villagers was baseless and was a political conspiracy of some villagers.

He said could not disburse the wages to the workers on time since the authority/department concerned has not sanctioned the amount regularly.

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