Inspection of the schemes today
SHILLONG: The CSWO has alleged that the election of the headman of Umsaw Nongkharai has been forcefully conducted as ordered by the Sordar Nongpoh in spite of strong objections from many of the villagers in the area.
The villagers were seeking accountability from the earlier headman Angelus Sunn, who has not been transparent with government schemes, and demanding all accounts to be provided before the election of a new headman. But the Sordar did not pay heed to it.
The CSWO in a statement issued to the media objected to such dictatorship in traditional institutions, as most schemes are routed through these heads.
“Lack of accountability and transparency will bring about failure in development activities envisaged by the Central and the State governments through various schemes thus leading to corruption,” CSWO president Agnes Kharshiing said.
Private land shown as part of MGNREGS project
The CSWO alleged that a private land was shown as part of the MGNREGS project as per the picture put up on the wall by the BDO office at Umling in Ri Bhoi district.
The CSWO met the land owner who said she had paid to Angelus Sunn over Rs 16 lakh for construction of a retaining wall on her land at Umsaw Nongkharai situated in the locality called ‘Dorbar Shnong’, and this work was given to him by the land owner as a private contractor.
Records show that the headman used this wall to show as a proposal for a new retaining wall required for the village under the MNREGS as decided by the VEC in a meeting on October 31, 2015.
The proposal sent to the Block Development Officer at Umling was merely mentioned as ‘Construction of footbridge, CC site drain and retaining wall’ without mentioning the locality where the footbridge, the drain or the retaining wall is required to be made.
This being the case, the BDO Umling has issued a work order for a CC drain and a retaining wall at Umsaw Nongkharai for over Rs 20.8 lakh on July 28, 2016 without mentioning the name of the locality.
“Proposals which are not at all clear should have been rejected by the office of the BDO or the DRDA as this leads to overlapping of MP, MLA, MDC and central Schemes in the same place and encourages corruption even at the village level leading to confrontations and dissatisfaction in villages,” the CSWO said.
It has also been revealed through the RTI that Sunn started work in full swing after the RTI were sought, thus indicating that initially there was intention to cheat and all this could not have been done if the Department concerned or the authorities were watchful and thorough.
An FIR has been filed by the acting Headman at Nongpoh PS with regards to this discrepancy by Sunn and also a few individuals who did not go for work under the MNREGS but the reply to the RTI query revealed that their signatures were forged and someone had cheated and drawn the wages in their name.
Hence, the CSWO urged the authorities to be practical and follow procedures laid down and inspect thoroughly such proposals as this leads to misuse of funds.
The government should take action against officials or staff indulging in corrupt means misleading village heads and allowing misuse of public funds which also becomes an economic offence, the CSWO said.
The CSWO also urged the KHADC to appoint good traditional heads in various capacities and not to allow those who are not accountable or transparent to head the villages, as even ‘Sanads’ issued usually mention credibility and honesty in dealing with public funds.
Since an inspection of the schemes will be carried out on Monday, the CSWO urged the Deputy Commissioner to ensure that people of the village of Umsaw Nongkharai and whistleblowers are not intimidated by supporters of the earlier headman.