Argument erupts over taking RTI help on NREGS at Takhel
Source: Hueiyen News Service

A HEATED argument was erupted between groups of people at Sanjenbam Khullen in Imphal east over a matter that a woman applied for detail information with regard to the implementation of NREGS in the village from the Imphal east DC under the provision of the RTI Act, 2005 .

The heated argument erupted when supporters of pradhan Yumkhaibam Biren of the Takhel gram panchayat which also cover the Sanjenbam Khullen charged a woman named Moirangthem ongbi Ibemjaobi of Sanjenbam Khullen of trying to extract the information regarding the work for clearing Chingoi river under the NREGS without prior knowledge of the pradhan.

The woman on last December 8 submitted an application seeking details of the works, number of job card holders working and funds released for the work etc.

from the DC, Imphal east under the provision of the RTI act.

While having interaction with pradhan Biren with some reporter, he said if there is any dissatisfaction to the manner of the working, the woman can brought up the matter to the gram panchayat and discuss for bringing into the right direction.

But without having approaching the matter to him, going directly to the DC for obtaining details of the works implementation is not satisfied by the people.

Apart from this, she herself is also among the job card holders, he added. Dissatisfied over the nature of the woman, a pulbic meeting was also held on December 17 last and resolved to ask her to withdraw the application which she submitted to the DC.

Biren further observed that even though there have some defect with regard to the issue of NREGS job cards to the villagers, it may have done for the convenient of the poor villagers.

Instead of trying to find the defect, it would have been better to hold consultation and rectify it.

On the other hand, Ibemchaobi who applied for the detail information said that she had applied only to know the detail of the works.

There have no bad intention at the time submitting the application.

She went on to say that after she applied it let her know on the various facilities like assistant to the pregnant woman who could not take part in the working and assistant to those workers who got injured during the working which can be availed by the job card holders.

But the act of intimidating her by saying that she can even be turned out from the village by dismantling house is not really satisfied, she added.

She also said that she was not invited to attend the public meeting which discussed the matter but five people came after the meeting and called her up to attend the meeting which she refused.

What wrong she had committed while seeking the information, she finally asked.