SHILLONG: The People’s Democratic Front (PDF) Umpling unit is seeking clarification from former MLA of Mawryngkneng, David Nongrum on the utilisation of MLA scheme.
Addressing a press conference on Monday, advisor of PDF Umpling unit, Livingstone Thangkhiew informed that he asked for a receipt from the BDO where a kachcha cash memo which wrote “Purchased of cowdung – Rs 7000” was showed to them. “We don’t have space to plant mint here in Umpling. How is it possible that there are 474 farmers in Umpling?” he said.
Thangkhiew said that for the financial assistance to uplift livelihood of farmers for Umpling, an RTI filed by them revealed that in 2015, Rs 7,77,000 was sanctioned for 207 beneficiaries.
And in 2017, Rs 18, 69,000 for 267 beneficiaries was sanctioned.
The RTI further revealed that the scheme of manure distribution in Mawryngkneng which amounted to Rs 3, 78, 90,000 till December 2017 was withdrawn by Mawryngkneng Tender Committee and by an individual for Umpling.
“We are doubtful whether the money has reached the people or not,” Thangkhiew added.
In this connection, he has urged the farmers to set up a farmers’ association in Mawryngkneng constituency so that they get what is rightfully theirs.
On the other hand, Thangkhiew said that around Rs 1, 40,97,000 was withdrawn by an individual for solar lighting which was not utilised as there were no solar lights in Mawryngkneng. “However, when we campaigned in different places of Mawryngkneng, we did not find any of the solar lighting,” he said.
