Imphal, July 11 2009: Serious allegation has been levelled against the implementing authority of a National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS) work being taken up at Sinakeithei (Sanakeithel) village in Ukhrul district.

according to sources, the Sinakeithei Village Authority, entrusted to implement the scheme work comprising of road construction/repairing of the village, tree plantation and culvert construction prepared two separate expenditure vouchers - one for presentation and verification by the local job card holders and the other for submission as official document for further sanction of scheme allocation.

In the expenditure sheet prepared for scrutiny by the Sinakeithei locals, the village authority enlisted Rs 1.86 lakhs as balance amount out of a total sanction of Rs 26,03,370 whereas document meant for official record in the office of the Block Development Officer/Sub Divisional Officer, Ukhrul TD Block declared exhaustion of the total amount released for the project.

In the latter document, expenditures of the said amount were classified into only labour component (wage payment) and material component (purchase of tools) contrary to the statement for the locals' approval dissected into 12 components including fund usage on expenses in travel, feasting, social work, office presentation, tax payment to undisclosed source and diversion to general fund among others.

Moreover, the official document cited fund receipt and utilisation in four instalments upto July 6, said the sources while informing that some of the expenditures enlisted for consent of the locals to withdraw further sanction is in violation of prescribed NREGS regulations.

Significantly, expenditures entered as travelling cost amounted to a little over Rs 1.40 lakhs with 'diverse to general fund' the second most highest tally at Rs 1,36,993 out of the total expenditure of Rs 24,16,605 .

Feasting cost the implementing agency Rs 44,366; social work Rs 63,000; and office presentation Rs 80,500, as had been detailed in the voucher.

It is informed that nowhere does the NREGS allocation/project entail or recommend expenditures related to feasting, social work, office presentation or ambiguous diversion to general fund.

Sinakeithei is said to be about 60 kilometres from Ukhrul district headquarters, where official procedures are centred.

Apprehensive of the village authority's sincerity in executing UPA Government's flagship programme that visualises job guarantee to the rural population for no less than 100 days in a year and NREGS norms violated in Sinakeithei project alleging lack of transparency in fund utilisation, 250 job card holders enrolled in Sinakeithei project submitted a complaint to the SDO, Ukhrul TD Block on July 8 urging that the matter be investigated for initiation of corrective measures.

The complainants also conveyed to the SDO regarding non-disclosure of expenditure details by the village authority members and unruly conduct of by unauthorised/ unapproved speaker when a meeting for social audit of Sinakeithei NREGS was held on July 7 .

When the job card holders voiced for the meeting be presided by the village Mantri, the five member audit panel of Sinakeithei declined the proposal and instead staged walkout, mentioned the complaint memorandum that also urged the SDO to hold back any further fund allocation till the matter had been resolved.

While pointing out that out of the total sanctioned amount Rs 9,40,856 had been distributed to the job holders, the complainants also conveyed strong suspicion of the remaining amount of Rs 15,52,418 being misused.

According to an informed source, NREGS guidelines among others necessitate provision of medicines to the enrolled workers in case of sickness and tarpaulin for temporary shed at work sites where children or the elderly could be sheltered from heat or rain which in the case of Sinakeithei NREGS were invisible.

The village authority inspite of registering expenditures incurred in purchase of materials and tools meant for the project did not elaborate through presentation of purchase vouchers/cash memo, the source maintained.

It is informed that Sinakeithei NREGS commenced from later part of 2008 and so far village road development work, tree plantation and culvert construction had been covered.

However, owing to foreseeable monsoon season the village road work activities had to be deferred after completion of about 4 kilometres and has been replaced by tree plantation works at present.

The project is for five years.

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