Slur casts on usage of MNREGS fund
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, March 10 2011: The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) launched by the UPA Government as a flagship programme with a view to provide employment to the rural poor for at least 100 days in a year has been reduced to a farce in Tulihal Gram Panchayat of Imphal East district.

The Pradhan of the Gram Panchayat has been withholding wages of job card holders since 2009.On the other hand, the job card holders have objected to the reported circular made by the Pradhan inviting application from job card holders for more jobs.

Speaking to media persons this afternoon at Veterinary ground located within the Gram Panchayat, some job card holders said that the Pradhan made an oral circular using mike last night inviting applications from job card holders for more MGNREGS jobs.

However, wages for jobs executed earlier have not been paid since 2009, they decried.

They expressed strong suspicion that their due wages have been swindled by the Pradhan.

The Pradhan collected job cards and bank passbooks from the holders in 2009 and they were returned to their owners only in December last but no wages have been paid till date since 2009 .

When the people demanded their job cards, the husband of the Pradhan scolded them using foul language.

One Nureda Begum who went to append her signature on her job card for the works done was physically assaulted by the Pradhan's husband.

The matter was later settled after the Pradhan offered Rs 20,000 as compensation.

The matter was taken up at the level of the Andro A/C MLA and negotiation were held between the MGNREGS action committee and Tulihal GP.

But the Pradhan has been stubbornly refusing to act.

Under such circumstances, it was unacceptable for the Pradhan to invite fresh applications for MGNREGS jobs.

Until and unless, the due wages are paid, no fresh MGNREGS jobs would be allowed within the Gram Panchayat, the infuriated job card holders said.

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