MHRC directs Jiribam officials to 'distribute' wages
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, August 26 2022: Manipur Human Rights Commission (MHRC) has directed the DC and BDO/SDO of Jiribam to distribute the wages of job card holders under MNREGA scheme in respect of Sonapur GP from 2018 to 2022 after conduct of proper verification within a month.

A complaint was filed by Md Sahid Ahmad to the Commission, mentioning the Government of Manipur represented by RD&PR commissioner, DC Jiribam, BDO/SDO Jiribam and Sonapur GP pradhan and 5 members as respondents.

According to the complaint, the respondents conspired and misappropriated huge amount of funds meant for development of IVRs, ponds and playgrounds in Sonapur GP.

On top of this, the MNREGA job card holders have not been paid their wages from 2018-2022 .

Respondents (no, 3 to 8) submitted written response to the Commission, stating that around 50 percent of the construction and development works of the wards concerned are related to the GP, 25 percent with the Zilla Parishad and another 25 percent falls under the purview of the local MLA.

The 50 percent share of work for the GP was carried out jointly by the pradhan, ward members and job card holders.

The government, instead of disbursing the wages of job card holders for 100 days of work in time, released the amount for only 40-60 days in the financial year, while job card holders worked for only 6 days.

After listening to the arguments of both sides, the Commission directed the respondents to verify the money meant for development of IVRs in Sonapur GP but was sanctioned illegally, while also urging for completion of the remaining works.

It further directed the DC and BDO/SDO Jiribam to conduct a proper verification and distributed the pending wages of the job card holders from 2018-2022 within a month's time.

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