Imphal, March 20 2009: Following a PIL filed by the president of MACHA LEIMA RTI Apunba Nupi Lup, Khangembam Anandi at the initiative of Human Rights Law Network, Imphal, the Gauhati High Court has today issued a Rule Nissi to the Governments authorities as Respondents returnable within four weeks in a PIL seeking appropriate direction for effective implementation of National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS) in Manipur which is formulated by the Manipur government in accordance with the provisions of the NREGA, 2005. The Rule Nissi was issued by a division bench comprising Justice Tayenjam Nandakumar Singh and Justice K Meruno of the Gauhati High Court, according to a release issued by Human Rights Law Network Director, Meihoubam Rakesh.

The petitioner contended that the NREGA, 2005 came into force in Tamenglong district with effect from April 13, 2006.Subsequently, Churachandpur and Chandel districts had been covered under the Act in the second phase with effect from April 1, 2007.The remaining sis districts of Manipur have also been covered under the Act with effect from April 1, 2008. The petitioner said that the NREGA is the most progressive and radical legislation in the history of Independent India.

If implemented in letter and spirit, the historic Act has the potential to transform the face of rural areas of Manipur.

It said that it would be a great tragedy if the NREGS ends up as another money minting machine for unscrupulous officials.

It pointed out that unfortunately that is what has happened in several Gram Panchayats in Manipur.

The petitioner could not find a single family in those gram panchayats who had actually got 100 days of wage employment.

It said that the provision of social audit incorporated in the NREGA seems like frauding the rural poor of Manipur while pointing out the absence of transparency in the administration of NREGS and subversion of grassroots democracy.

The petitioner accuses the pradhans and panchayat members of pocketing the wages of the workers who had not attended works at all but whose names were listed in the muster rolls quietly, apart from charging the pradhans and panchayat members of withdrawing money on behalf of the workers by obtaining signatures of the workers on blank bank/post office withdrawal slips.

By means of PIL, the petitioner raises the deep rooted corruption, malpractices and large scale embezzlement of funds in the implementation of NREG Scheme in seven gram panchayats in Imphal East district � Uchekon Nongpok Gram Panchayat, Ucheckon Nongchup GP, Khongman GP, Takhel GP, Top Naoriya GP, Angtha GP and Bamon Kampu GP � Five GPs in Thoubal district namely, Wangjing GP, Arong Nongmaikhong GP, Charangpat GP, Lourembam Sekmai GP and Leirongthel-Ningel GP; three GPs under Imphal West District viz, Bijoygovinda GP, Kodompokpi GP and Lairenjam Meijrao GP; and two GPs under Bishnupur district namely, Irengbam GP and Utlou GP.

The petitioner contended that no gram sabha meeting was held properly in the mentioned GPs to acquaint the locals with the key provisions of the NREGA as well as the rights of the workers under the Act before the initiation of works and during works.

The petitioner said that information on NREGS processes is neither available nor publicly displayed in the GPs and added that the provision of NREGA that job cards should be issued within 15 days from the date of submission of application was defeated.

Citing the various failures of the authorities in implementing the scheme, the petitioner further said that the provision for providing 100 days works to the job card holders would not be possible even if the remaining days of March 2009 are assigned for works in actual practice in the mentioned GPs.

The Respondents listed in the PIL are State of Manipur through the Commissioner, (RD and PR) to the Government of Manipur; Director, Department of RD and PR, Government of Manipur; District Programme Coordinators of Imphal East, Imphal West, Bishnupur and Thoubal Districts, Manipur; Sinam Shyamacharan Singh, Programme Officer, Kakching CD Block, Thoubal district, Manipur; Pradhans of Takhel, Ucheckon Nongchup, Khongman, Wangjing GPs; and Union of India through the Secretary, Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India, New Delhi.

Comment