By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, May 7: Political interference has seeped deep into the implementation of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) in Garo Hills, corroding the scheme’s foundational purpose of delivering livelihood security to the rural poor. This assessment was made by Opposition TMC MLA from Rajabala, Dr Mizanur Rahman Kazi, who has flagged a series of irregularities in Demdema Block, West Garo Hills.
“Yes. If you happen to see and observe the way things are happening it is all politically motivated which should not happen, as MGNREGA is an act to ensure the livelihood of the poor and needy, irrespective of their political affiliations. As far as I can see it is totally politically motivated,” Dr Kazi said, warning that the misuse of the scheme is compromising its intent and credibility.
“I have noticed lot of irregularities in my constituency regarding MGNREGA, in fact there was a complaint from the public and I had forwarded to the BDO of Demdema block,” he said.
He alleged that a number of job card holders in the block do not qualify under MGNREGA norms, yet continue to remain on official rolls.
“As per MGNREGA Act there cannot be single job card holders, there cannot be job card holders having government jobs. I can provide a list where you can clearly see that in a village there are 45 job cards which appears to be either single job card holders or females married in Assam and settled there or having government jobs. These are the irregularities that are happening,” he explained.
Despite flagging the issue with the concerned Block Development Officer, Dr Kazi said the administration has shown no intent to act. “I had requested BDO Demdema to conduct a thorough enquiry and cancel these job cards which does not fall under the MGNREGA category. But nothing has been done so far, even no inquiry was held.”
Dr Kazi stressed the urgency of ministerial intervention to prevent further dilution of the Act. “I would strongly urge and request the Minister for his intervention as this is very important. When we are not following the norms of MGNREGA then we are diluting the Act itself. It should be carried out in such a way that it honours the Act and things are carried out in terms and spirit of the Act.”
He confirmed that he has already prepared a formal representation to be submitted to the Community and Rural Development Minister. “I have already prepared a letter to submit and request his intervention and initiate thorough inquiry into this regard,” he said, adding, “Yes definitely, first let me request the C&RD Minister and if nothing action is taken then I will knock the doors of the Centre.”
The rot, he said, extends beyond job card anomalies. Delays and manipulation in Village Employment Council (VEC) elections are also contributing to the erosion of MGNREGA’s grassroots governance structure. “That is worse because in my constituency there are areas where the term has expired two, three years back and no action has been taken to hold elections to appoint the new functionaries,” he said.
Dr Kazi accused authorities in Demdema Block of bypassing the election process entirely. “Instead of holding elections as per the MGNREGA Act they are just selecting,” he said. According to him, the situation has prompted residents to seek legal remedy.
“Lot of people have moved the High Court to get an injunction to hold the elections and just a couple of days back the High Court has directed the BDO to go as per the Act and conduct elections within two months of the order,” he added.