Morale sapping blow to successful conduct of ADC election after 20 years
ADC members accused of swindling fund
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, July 29 2011:
Even as the SPF Government has been patting itself for successfully holding ADC elections after a gap of 20 years, elected ADC members of Sadar Hills have been accused of swindling all the public fund meant for Sadar Hills Autonomous District Council.
A reliable source informed that job card holders of Sadar Hills did not get a single rupee even though Rs 30 lakhs have been released for MGNREGS works for 2011-12 .
Along with this, a serious allegation has been raised accusing elected MDCs of swindling the huge amount.
The amount of Rs 30 lakhs was meant for procuring material and payment of wages for 33 days to job card holders residing in 15 wards of Kangpokpi.
The amount was released to the accounts of job card holders, one each for the 15 wards of Kangpokpi, after obtaining approval from the ADC Chairman for fund allocation.
The wages entitled to the job card holders were deposited in their accounts.
The deposited amounts were, however, drawn from the bank on July 22 .
To establish the modus operandi of drawing the amount, police have been searching for the 15 account holders.
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It is reported that the account holders have gone into hiding.
It is not only MGNREGS.
People have strong suspicion that other funds released through DRDA have been either misused or swindled without ever reaching the grassroots.
Subsequently sign-boards were put up at different places including Kangpokpi ADC complex declaring that Sadar Hills MDCs have swindled all the public fund.
Talking through telephone about the withdrawal of Rs 30 lakhs meant for material component and wages of MGNREGS works, the Additional Deputy Commissioner Kangpokpi said that the amount was released as advance payment.
It was not only 15 wards of Kangpokpi town, certain amounts for MGNREGS wages and material component were also released for around 100 villages of Kangpokpi area.
But problems arose only in the 15 wards of Kangpokpi Town Committee.
The tenure of the Kangpokpi Town Committee had expired and it has been taken over by the ADC for the last two/three months.
With the Town Committee not functioning, there was no one to operate the bank accounts of the 15 wards.
An order was then issued to the effect that the bank accounts would be operated by one MDC and one Extension Officer.
Subsequently the amount of Rs 30 lakhs was released, said the Additional Deputy Commissioner.
While conceding that withdrawal of the money has been learnt from unofficial sources, he maintained that there has been no official complaint till date.
If misuse or swindling of fund is confirmed, many punitive actions can be initiated including withholding fund for the next phase of work, added the Additional Deputy Commissioner.