SHILLONG: Though the state government claims that implementation of the MGNREGS has improved, there are still some villages which are deprived of this scheme out of fear and illiteracy.
The same is witnessed at Nongrim-Nongladew under the Umsning C & RD Block, Ri Bhoi where majority of the job cards holders are deprived of their rights and public funds misappropriated.
This blatant misappropriation of public funds by the VEC functionaries of Nongrim-Nongladew came to the fore following the findings of Ombudsman of MGNREGS of Ri Bhoi TR Mallai.
Accordingly, the deputy commissioner of Ri Bhoi directed the Block Development Officer of Umsning C and RD Block to file an FIR against the VEC functionaries, Iaishah Marpan and secretary, Heronice Masharing immediately following the findings.
It is however reported that no follow-up has been taken by the district administration in this matter.
According to the confederation of Ri-Bhoi People (CORP), HNYF and CSWO, there was no follow up in accordance with the matter and due to this; though the present VEC was dissolved, a new VEC was formed at Nongrim-Nongladew in a hush-hush manner without the notice of the job card holders.
It may be recalled that the DC has directed that no new scheme should be sanctioned and also to stop all the ongoing work of MGNREGS in the VEC until further order.
“They have violated the order of the DC and took this step of forming a new VEC by themselves and no public meeting was held in this regard which is mandatory according to the provision of the NREGS”, secretary of the CORP Eastern Zone C Lyngdoh told reporters here on Wednesday.
They have demanded the district administration to take serious note of the matter and book the accused as per law to prevent such irregularities from occurring in future.
According to the report findings relating to the implementation of the 6 projects under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Guarantee Scheme (MGNRES) at Nongrim-Nongladew VEC, the diversion of funds from its destination to the pockets of a few VEC members was unearthed.
The report submitted by Ombudsman of MGNREGS of Ri Bhoi TR Mallai recently indicated that out of the total amount sanctioned for the six projects from 2008-2009, 2010-2011 amounting to Rs 36 lakh 48 thousand 3 hundred and 33 has not been utilized.
“As per findings, out of the total amount, only Rs 4 lakh 33 thousand 4 hundred and 40 was utilized showing that huge amount of Rs 32 lakh 14 thousand 9 hundred and 33 has been misappropriated either by the chairman or secretary of the VEC”, Mallai stated in the report.
He also said that the accused should be asked to refund to the block office or District Rural Development Agency (DRDA) the entire amount found to have been misappropriated.