Imphal, June 19: Non-release of related work orders by the respective District Programme Co-ordinators has not only caused concern and confusion but has also given rise to apprehension among the job card holders who have already begun work on their assigned tasks under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS) in different parts of the State.

This being the main cause, there is the possibility of derailing the implementation of the scheme as more and more job card holders have decided to stay away from their assigned tasks until the related work orders are released.

According to information received by the press, in Imphal West district around 500 job card holders in Kodompokpi Gram Panchayat, 1200 job card holders in Hiyangthang Gram Panchayat and around 1152 job card holders in Lairenjam Meijrao Gram Panchayat have already begun work on their assigned tasks though the work orders have not been released and handed over to the members of the Panchayats concerned.

Although the Deputy Commissioner of Imphal West District, who is also the District Programme Co-ordinator has given approval to the work proposals submitted through the respective Block Development Officers (BDOs, who are the Programme Officers, the approval of the same from the District Panchayat which is essential under Section 14 (3) b of NREGS Act, 2006 is yet to be taken.

So, in the absence of any signal from the respective District programme Co-ordinators in this regard, the work orders could not been issued and handed over to the job card holders.

Aggrieved job card holders of Kodompokpi, Hiyangthang and Lairenjam Meijrao Gram Panchayat who have already started their works though the requisite work orders have not been received informed that they have begun work on their assigned tasks at the instruction of the District Programme Co-ordinators of NREGS.

However, as the task of dredging the 5-km long irrigation canal from Nambol to Waishel Marin via Haokhong Loukon in Hiyangthang Makha Leikai by more than 1200 job card holders of Hiyangthang Gram Panchayat and strengthening of the 5-km long embankment from Kakyai Salam to Meijrao Awang Leikai via Mekola in Govindgram to be taken up by around 1152 job card holders of Lairenjam Meijrao Gram Panchayat have delayed due to apprehension over non-release of related work orders and the required equipments have not been procured and provided.

In this regard, the aggrieved job card holders have urged for releasing the required fund for procuring the material component under the scheme and providing the required equipments to them at the earliest possible.

Talking to mediapersons in this connection today, Adhyaksha of Imphal West Zilla Parishad S Subhaschandra explained out of the total fund sanctioned by the Government under NREGS, 60 percent is meant for labour charge and the remaining 40 percent for material component.

Moreover, as per NREGS Act, work on the assigned task should be commenced after approval of the District Programme Co-ordinators on receiving the report provided to the District Panchayat concerned by the Programme Officers.

However, neither the Programme Officer nor the District Programme Co-ordinators have given any information in this regard so far although instruction had been already been given for commencement of the work.

So the work had been commenced without the requisite work order.

This is really unfortunate, the Adhyaksha rued.

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