TURA: Barely two weeks after a handful of villagers had written to the state government opposing the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) method for payment of wages for MGNREGA works in the Demdema block of the plain-belt region in West Garo Hills, preferring that the money be instead directly given to Village Employment Council (VEC) accounts, a different story has now emerged with villagers from several areas objecting to the move and instead accusing ‘corrupt’ VECs of instigating some villagers to do their bidding.
People from several hill villages in Demdema Block have come forward to squash the claims of VEC secretaries, charging them with involvement in corruption by instigating some villagers so that their hard-earned money falls in the hands of these secretaries who decide the amount to be paid.
Several villagers — from Rengchigre, Chanupara, Matramchigre, Mrongre, Kangrongre A&B, Paham, Bamungdenga, Sorokpara, Nidanpur, Alokdia, Williampur, Pabomari, Moilakandi, Demdema, Masangpani, Ghumaijora, Balajora, Phulbari, Donapara, all falling under Demdema Block, — reached out to The Shillong Times to express their opposition to the move to halt DBT money transfers.
“Nobody wants their hard-earned money to go to some VEC secretary for disbursement when we have our own bank accounts. During the lockdown period, the state government had transferred the 100 days’ wages to VEC secretaries’ account but many did not receive their complete dues,” said the villagers.
They also revealed that on several occasions VEC secretaries have used JCB earth movers for work instead of engaging the villagers through manual labour, which is mandatory under MGNREGA work rules.
“The corrupt VEC secretaries cut short the work days through use of heavy machinery but in the logbooks display 100 days of manual work. So they pay the villages for just a few days and usurp the remaining amount,” alleged many villagers.
Giving details, job card holders of Chanupara village revealed that they were each paid only Rs 500 against the actual amount of Rs 18,700 that they were entitled.
“The Chanupara VEC secretary said since he is using a JCB, he cannot give more. He pocketed Rs 18,200 from each job card holder,” they said.
They also opposed the claims of VECs that banking facility is poor in the plain-belt area to provide DBT, pointing out that the SBI has opened a number of service points which only need to be operational on a regular basis for people to withdraw their savings from accounts.
“It is only in Demdema Block that one can see large number of VEC secretaries misusing MGNREGA funds. It is an open secret that all dealings for work plans, work order payments and discussions are done from Chibinang and not Demdema. When they complain about lack of banking facilities, the government should not accept their claims, which are bogus. When remote blocks like Rongara and Chokpot in South Garo Hills can operate DBT accounts, what is to stop Demdema from doing the same? The transportation network is 90 per cent better than South Garo Hills in this region of plan belt,” revealed the villagers, urging the government to continue with direct payment to villagers accounts through the banks.