By Our Reporter
SHILLONG:The discrepancy and irregularities in the implementation of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme in the state has yet again hit the limelight causing much insecurity among the rural folks besides paving the way for easy money by unscrupulous elements.
In tune to such irregularities, an RTI was filed in the Block development Office, Umsning where it was found that Village Employment Council (VEC) of Mawtneng village who is also the Headman of that village, Centre Barim and the secretary of Warsingh Sohiong in connivance with the Block Development Officer, Umsning have allegedly forged the signature of one, Merciful Makhroh and in accordance to this, an FIR was filed at the Umiam police station by the CSWO and HNYF-Ri Bhoi against the above mentioned persons.
Disclosing this at a press conference here on Thursday, Merciful Makhroh’s husband, Wassin Syiem said that Makhroh’s job card which was issued for the year 2008-2009 was done without her knowledge besides affixing another woman’s photograph in the job card with Makhroh’s name on it. “When the job card was made for the year 2008-2009 we were living in Umroi and during that time, someone has fraudulently withdrawn the money in my wife’s name”, alleged Syiem.
Meanwhile, CSWO president Agnes Kharshiing said taking advantage of the illiteracy and poverty of the rural folks, these people with vested interest has been holding on to these job cards.
While urging legislators of the state to look into the issue seriously, Kharshiing said, “Someone should take up this issue in the Assembly.”
The CSWO has also alleged that there has been diversion of funds meant for construction of a footpath and the fund has been diverted for the construction of “drinking water well”, construction of “fishing pond”, and construction of “land development”, which is against the guidelines of the MGNREGA.