Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, Aug 03:
The National Rural Employment Generation Scheme has come under a cloud of controversy with several villagers of Khoupum alleging that the funds meant to be paid to them as wages have been misutilised.
A complaint in this connection has also been submitted to the Chief Minister, Chief Secretary and the Deputy Commissioner of Tamenglong district.
Accordingly the Chief Secretary has asked the Commissioner of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj to look into the matter and a similar instruction has also been issued to the DC, said a well placed source when contacted by The Sangai Express.
The Deputy Commissioner though could not be contacted.
Alleging that the funds meant for the villagers under the scheme have been misused, the villagers said that 200 villagers of seven hamlets of Khoupum valley participated in the construction work of Satudai road taken up under the scheme in June this year.
Each family was given the job card and each family was entitled to the wages of Rs 77 per day, said the villagers.
Though the SDO of Nungba had sanctioned and released the respective NREGS fund to the Chairman of Khoupum Village Authority, the Chairman had not released the wages to the villagers except to 53 households of Gamdijang.
Demanding stern action against the Chairman and the SDO, Nungba or SDC concerned, the villagers demanded their wages in cash or kind.
The list of the 200 families who have been denied their wages has been submitted to the Deputy Commissioner of Tamenglong for immediate action, said the villagers in a statement made available to the press.