From Our Correspondent
TURA, May 29: A detailed assessment into anomalies in the implementation of MGNREGA under Demdema C&RD Block in West Garo Hills has revealed the involvement of four data entry operators (DEOs) in surreptitiously registering hundreds of job card holders into the MGNREGA database without proper verification or prior approval from the competent authority.
It may be recalled that on April 30, the Confederation of Meghalaya Social Organisations (CoMSO) had lodged a formal complaint with the Deputy Commissioner of West Garo Hills following the discovery of alleged violations concerning the unauthorised creation and distribution of Job Cards under MGNREGA. The matter was widely reported by several newspapers across the state.
These findings, along with subsequent news reports, prompted further scrutiny, culminating in an official meeting on Wednesday, convened by the Civil Sub-Divisional Officer (SDO) of Dadenggre at Demdema Block.
The meeting was attended by key administrative officials, including the BDO of Demdema Block, the Assistant Programme Officer (APO), and the Assistant APO, along with supporting staff. Representatives of CoMSO, including general secretary Balkarin Ch. Marak and publicity secretary Tony Tojrang B. Marak, were present, as well as members of the Garoland State Movement Committee (GSMC) Central Executive Committee, represented by organising secretary Jason Tekrang M. Sangma and finance secretary Nikcheng Ch. Marak.
The participation of these NGOs was deemed necessary in the greater public interest due to rising discontent and credible reports of administrative malpractices in MGNREGA implementation.
As per the findings reported during the meeting, four DEOs, whose names were not disclosed, had surreptitiously registered hundreds of job card holders into the MGNREGA database, which “overwhelmingly” favoured individuals from the Muslim community, without formal verification or prior approval from the BDO.
Alarmingly, in one village alone, close to 200 individuals were registered in a single year without due process, pointing to systemic manipulation of records and gross violations of administrative procedures.
The NGO representatives stated that such violations were not only a severe breach of rules but also ethical and legal infractions that compromised the foundational principles of transparency, equity, and justice envisioned under MGNREGA.
They argued that this undermined public trust and deprived deserving beneficiaries of their rightful entitlements, eroding the credibility of grassroots governance.
Both CoMSO and GSMC leaders at the meeting urged the SDO and BDO to take immediate and stringent disciplinary measures against the four implicated DEOs. They demanded their immediate suspension and called for a comprehensive door-to-door verification campaign across all affected villages to identify and revoke fraudulently issued Job Cards.
Informing this through a statement, the CoMSO publicity secretary said that in response, the SDO (Civil), Dadenggre, assured that appropriate action would be taken, including the suspension of the erring DEOs and a full-scale verification exercise to cleanse the MGNREGA records of all anomalies.
While welcoming this commitment to uphold administrative accountability as a step in the right direction, the statement called for continuous monitoring to ensure proper implementation.
Both organisations also reiterated their dedication to safeguard the rights of one and all, ensuring clean and fair governance and protecting the sanctity of public welfare schemes.
The statement added that this particular issue serves as a reminder that the fight against corruption and favouritism in public service must be collective and unrelenting, while also calling upon authorities, community leaders and citizens to support “all genuine efforts aimed at transparency, justice and equitable distribution of public resources.”