SHILLONG: Community and Rural Development Minister, Prestone Tynsong on Wednesday informed the Assembly that the total pending amount which is to be released to the Village Employment Councils (VECs) for the works undertaken under Mahatma Gandhi National Employment Guarantee Scheme (MNGREGS) till December 31 was Rs.149.83 crore.
“We have not been able to release the funds on time due to delay in receipt of funds from the union ministry of rural development,” Tynsong said while replying to question raised by UDP legislator Metbah Lyngdoh in the Assembly on Wednesday.
Replying to a supplementary from Lyngdoh as to whether there was any stipulated time within which wages were to be paid after completion of the project, the C&RD minister said, “As per Para 8.3 of the revised MNGREGA operational guidelines, wages for unskilled labourers are to be paid within a fortnight of the date on which the work is completed. The payment for materials is released as and when required, for smooth execution of the projects.”
Tynsong, however, informed that the department was on the job to release an amount of Rs.52 crore received from the ministry in February last to the respective VECs.
While replying to another supplementary of the Mairang legislator, Tynsong said that he had not received any official complaint about the VECs not receiving funds for a period of two years.
“I will try to immediately rectify this matter if he (Lyngdoh) is able to provide me with the details of the VECs that have not received the funds for a period of two years,” the C&RD minister stated.
Meanwhile, the legislator said that chairmen and secretaries of several VECs were not keen on taking up projects under MNGREGS due to the delay in release of funds.
“Many of the VEC chairmen and secretaries have also been accused of misusing funds which is unprecedented,” Lyngdoh said.
In reply, Tynsong said he was also concerned about delay in release of the funds.
“We have taken up the matter with the ministry to expedite the process for release of funds. We are hopeful that this problem will be drastically reduced by the next financial year,” Tynsong added.
