Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, July 15 2009:
Coming out strongly against the remarks of the Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Minister Md Allauddin who declared on the floor of the Assembly yesterday that 100 days of works could not be ensured under NREGS as the Gram Sabhas failed to submit their work proposals in time, Pradhans of Imphal East Block I and II have countered it was the inefficiency of the Minister to carry out his duties in time that led to the failure of ensuring the stipulated number of work days.
Talking to mediapersons at the office complex of Imphal East DC at Porompat today, the Pradhans informed that the sanctioned order for the full 100 days of works under NREGS had not been issued in case of Imphal East Block I and II.
Instead of that the sanctioned orders had been issued for only 30 days, 20 days or 60 days.
Even for the sanctioned number of work days, Rs 22 crores sanctioned for the period 2008-09 which include Rs 14 crores for the Imphal East Block-I and another Rs 8 crores for the Block-II has not been released till date, the Pradhans pointed out.
Reacting to the move of roping in the services of the NGOs in connection with implementation of the works under NREGS by providing 50 percent of the total fund, the Pradhans asserted it was only a ploy to cover up inefficiency of the Minister himself.
They also questioned from where these NGOs are going to be paid when the pending fund of the works already implemented had not been released.
Even if there are provisions under the guidelines of the NREGS to provide advance payment, no such payments have been made, they rued.