EMN
Dimapur, February 11
The Against Corruption and Unabated Taxation (ACAUT) has appealed to tribal youth organisations in all districts to declare all-out ‘War Against Corruption’ and check whether welfare departments such as Rural department, Social welfare department, Relief and Rehabilitation department are acting in the interests of rural people.
Media Cell, ACAUT Nagaland in a statement said, “While the Store Keeper of F&CS department, Mokokchung, is on the run, the fact of the matter is that the department in the eye of the storm, F&CS, is conspicuous by its silence. Without doubt, F&CS department is one of the most unaccounted for department and the least transparent in the State. This is the ‘bread and butter’ department for the political class and therefore it comes as no surprise that the Store Keeper is still evading arrest even when the unearthing of the scam happened ages ago on 31st Jan 2016, thanks to Mokokchung Youth Organisation and other civil society organisations.”
The ACAUT asserted that DC of Mokokchung should treat the issue most seriously and thoroughly probe the matter in a free and impartial manner.
Stating that the Inquiry Committee set up by DC Mokokchung is free from questionable influences, ACAUT suggested that DC includes 2 members from Mokokchung civil society as demanded by civil society organisations.
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“Unless this demand is fulfilled, the DC will not be able to escape allegations that he himself has vested interest or is acting at the behest of his political and administrative bosses or even the undergrounds in order to sweep the issue under the carpet.”
While the rice scam is being probed, the ACAUT requested the DC to see whether kerosene, wheat and other essential commodities reach the beneficiaries in Mokokchung district.
The ACAUT said, “In fact, the DCs of all the districts are requested to probe whether PDS items such as rice, kerosene, wheat, etc., reaches the beneficiaries at all. Rather, the allegation in certain quarters is that F&CS department cannot undertake this massive siphoning exercise without the ‘help and aid’ of the district administration. It is upto the DCs of the districts to prove otherwise.”