Dimapur, April 15 (EMN): Questions about Nagaland’s implementation of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) remain.
The Against Corruption & Unabated Taxation (ACAUT) has demanded from the Nagaland government to take steps to institute an enquiry, lodge a complaint with the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for thorough investigation into all funds utilised by the department of Rural Development, specifically fund provided by MGNREGA.
On Saturday, the organisation levelled charges that officials of the Rural Development department have “openly” taken blank cheques from the Medziphema Village Council to “illegally siphon off the money” sanctioned for village development activities provided by the MGNREGA (Act).
The ACAUT issued a copy of a letter addressed to the chief secretary of Nagaland seeking action against the officer in-charge of Medziphema block allegedly for illegally obtaining blank cheques from Medziphema Village Council.
“...some officials of the Rural Development department had openly taken blank cheques from the Medziphema Village Council with a view to illegally siphon off the money sanctioned for village development activities/genuine individual beneficiaries provided under MGNREGA,” the ACAUT alleged.
The MGNREGA is a centrally-sponsored scheme for the enhancement of livelihood; whereby the security of the households in rural areas of the country is financially secured with at least one hundred man-days of guaranteed wage employment every financial year for every household adult members who volunteer to do unskilled manual work and for matters connected there with or incidental there to.
The ACAUT referred to a press statement that was published in the local dailies on
March 25, 2017: the Medziphema Village Council’s “session” chairman Niesakuolie Siam and “session” secretary Kevisikho Kuotsu alleged that they were made to sign on blank cheques by Rural Development department officials that were meant for department mobilisation fund.
In this regard after the said cheque was forcefully obtained from the chairman and the village secretary, the village council in its annual general meeting held on the 18th of March unanimously resolved that henceforth the VDB secretary and chairman of Medziphema Village Council will not issue any blank cheques to Rural Development department.
At this, the ACAUT observed: “And, in the event of any demand for such cheques it should have the name of the beneficiary, exact amount and proper details on the utilisation of the said fund / money.”
From the ‘facts’ reported in the press, the ACAUT stated further, it has been found that the action of the concerned officer/BDO or the department asking a blank cheque for departmental mobilisation works can in no way be construed as legitimate and it is prima facie extortion from the helpless village council by the department and its officials.”
The organisation stated that the department was a government agency where the expenses are allocated during the financial year as well as the salary of the employees. For that matter, it reminded, the question of deducting money from the VDB’s allocated fund for departmental mobilisation does not arise and such deduction is illegal.
“In view of the findings and the open public outcry of the illegal activities perpetrated by the departmental officials on behalf of the department, the undersigned hereby submit this representation urging your authority to accept this representation and institute an enquiry, thereafter lodge a complaint to the CBI for thorough investigation not only of Medziphema Village Council issue but for a thorough investigation of all funds utilised by the department of Rural Development, specifically fund provided by MGNREGA as it being a central fund.”
The chief secretary is requested to accord “prosecution sanction to start for criminal trial of the concern offenders” under the Indian Penal Code, 1860 and Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, as when asked for.
“In this case, rural development fund is reported to have being siphoned off by unscrupulous government employees in the name of the department. The public and the ACAUT have time and again raised the issue of corruption but it has fallen on deaf ears,” the organisation lamented.
Only few individuals who hold lucrative post or portfolios in the various departments are “enjoying the cream of the benefits meant for the general public,” the ACAUT stated.
“Therefore, as public interest, the ACAUT demands that the chief secretary’s office take a proactive role in facilitating accountability and transparency and address the subject matter.”
In a related matter, there is a government notification from the MGNRGS authority stating implementation of the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT). The DBT entails direct cash transfer of wages to the Job card holders’ bank account.
The press release was appended by Kelei Zeliang, Commissioner (MGNREGA) and Secretary to the Government of Nagaland.
“It is to inform that Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) is to be implemented in Nagaland under MGNREGA from 1st April, 2017 along with rest of the country for direct cash transfer of wages to the respective Job card holders bank accounts,” the notification stated.
“Therefore, all the registered Job card holders under MGNREGA are hereby asked to open their bank accounts at the earliest. The BDOs are hereby directed to coordinate and assist the Job card holders in their respective Blocks in opening of the MGNREGA Job Card Holders bank accounts.”
Branch managers of different banks in Nagaland have been requested to extend cooperation in opening of “0” balance bank accounts of the MGNREGA Job Card holders.
