By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: The Sordar (chief) of Thadan village in East Khasi Hills district, Louis Lyngdoh allegedly forged signatures of 38 job card holders. The “forgery” came to light after some villagers filed an RTI on the implementation of NREGS last year where it was found that out of the 184 job card holders in the village, only 142 were engaged in construction of a footpath in the village costing Rs 11.37 lakh, whereas 34 job card holders abstained from the work and four were dead. According to the villagers, the Sordar, Louis Lyngdoh, who is also the chairman of the Village Employment Council (VEC), forged the signatures of the 34 job card holders and even of the four others who are already dead. It was also found that job cards were also given to one Anthony Nongspung who was from outside the village and two job cards were under the possession of one Sendrowell Nongspung.
After the RTI findings, the villagers demanded that a public meeting be held with the job card holders of the village. Accordingly, the Sordar had called for a village Dorbar, said one Salwin Nongspung.
“At the meeting on October 26 last year, we were threatened that if we raise any objections against the Sordar and seek information under RTI, the village might miss such flagship programmes in the future,” Nongspung alleged. The villagers also informed that during the meeting the Block Development Officer of Mawryngkneng Block was also present.
Moreover, the villagers also alleged that the VEC in the village was formed without their knowledge and it was controlled by the Sordar who is the Chairman and his son, Shilling Nongspung the Secretary of the VEC.
The village has around 200 households who are primarily engaged in agricultural activities like growing potato, cabbage and tomato.
“We are not even consulted before implementation of the programme on what kind of infrastructure we need,” the villagers said.
The villagers were, however, of the view that it did not matter as long the schemes were properly implemented.
The villagers have also threatened that if the authorities did not act on the basis of the RTI they would be compelled to file an FIR.