From Our Correspondent
TURA, Nov 26: An FIR has been filed against the President and Secretary of Nameram Village VEC in North Garo Hills district alleging the misappropriation of project funds by the leaders and their family members.
The FIR was filed on November 24 with the Officer in-charge of Kharkutta Police station by one, Pillip Marak- a job card holder.
According to the FIR, MGNREGS funds meant for the construction of a CC Pavers Block Road at Nameram were withdrawn out of which, Rs 5 lakh meant for skilled and semi skilled labourers including wages of the job card holders were misappropriated.
The FIR added that while the Secretary, when confronted by the job car holders, tried to claim that no wages had been sanctioned for the semi skilled, an RTI revealed otherwise indicating that the Secretary had shown the wrong copy during the confrontation.
A complaint in this regard was made to the BDO following which an inquiry was conducted on November 2 during which, the Secretary was directed to pay the skilled and semi skilled labourers their dues.
However, no payment has been made till date.
It has further been alleged that after the matter came to the notice of the authorities, the father of the VEC Secretary engaged some outside labourers and amidst protest from the job card holders, completed the pending works on the project in question.
Charges of forgery have also been labeled against the VEC Secretary, with the claim that while none of the job card holders’ signatures were obtained, their signatures have suddenly appeared in the attendance sheet.
Pointing out that the act amounts to forgery and impersonation, the FIR against the VEC leaders demanded strong action against all those involved in the anomaly.