Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, October 24 2010:
In an alleged violation of guidelines for implementation of the MGNREGS, machine has been found to be used in the MGNREGS work in Imphal east district.
That too, just near the Imphal East DC, Porompat.
As per the guidelines framed under the provisions of the MGNREGS Act, 2005, is givenpermission to engaging contractor is allowed and as far as practicable, a task funded under the scheme shall be performed by using manual labour and not machines.
A JCB machine was found using in the work of the MGNREGS in Imphal east district.
Interestingly the used of machine was found at a place just near DRDA office of the Imphal East district located at DC office complex, Porompat.
The working place is also very close to the MGNREGS Ombudsman office of the district.
Many observed that the use of machine in MGNREGS in the area is an unreasonable one.
It tantamount looting openly wages of job card holders, they said.
Even though, work of the scheme remains stop during the rainy season, with the end of the season, job card holders can now started using.
District programme coordinator and Keirao Bitra Block, the authority concern for the implementation of the scheme, are not interfering to prevent such malpractices.
Another violation of the guidelines of the Act in this district was using of more semi-skill labourers in the work.
As per the guidelines, semi-skill labourers should not exceed from 4% out of the total strength of the job card holders but in the construction drains at Heingang, Uchekon and Bashikhong area under the scheme, a good number of semi-skill labourers were found using.
If more than 4% semi-skill labourers are engaged in the work in an unavoidable circumstance, 75 percent of the total extra charge required in payment of wages to semi-skill labourers is to be borne by the Centre and the rest (25%) by the state government.
But authorities concerned are engaging these semi-skill labourers without giving extra wages.