Thursday, 4 February 2016

MGNREGA marred by corruption, pilferage

Tahir Mushtaq

RAMBAN, Feb 2: The much hyped Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) that was aimed at providing rural employment has been hijacked by the corrupt officers and officials who have been designated to oversee its implementation.

Despite ferocious credit war between political parties over MGNREGA, it is a pity that nearly eight years after its inception, a large chunk of rural population does not have any idea of the scheme and a large number of those who are engaged under the scheme are denied wages by the government babus.

One such incident has been reported from Panchayat Hochak under block Ukerhal of tehsil Ramsu district Ramban where RDD engaged about 80 locals under MGNREGA and later failed to pay their wages despite lapse of four years.

Locals alleged that in the year 2013-14 they started leveling work with estimated cost of Rs 5 lakh, but after the completion of four years they didn't get their payments. They further alleged that the panch of the said Panchayat Hochak namely Om Singh had taken Rs 300 each from 80 engaged labourers in year January 2014 as commission for the release of payment.

Moreover the Sarpanch of the said panchayat Tirath Singh Hockah had also taken an amount of Rs 10000 from a labour namely Janak Singh in year 2015 for the same purpose, but our woes increased when these people demanded Rs 40000 more in the name of payment release.

Assistant Commissioner Development (ACD) Ramban Gul Hussain Kraipak said that he was not sure whether payment invoice for the year 2013 and 2014 has been sent to the concerned bank or not.


"The department shall first verify the allegations and if anybody is found guilty within the department or even Sarpanch/ Panch, action under law shall be initiated" he added.

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