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Call to probe MGNREGA fund ‘misuse’ in Demdema

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From Our Correspondent

TURA, July 10: Social activist and Adviser to the Confederation of Meghalaya Social Organisations (COMSO), Cherian Momin, has called for an immediate high-level inquiry into the alleged large-scale embezzlement of MGNREGA funds under the Demdema Community & Rural Development (C&RD) Block in West Garo Hills.
Momin submitted a formal petition to Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma at his official residence in Shillong on Wednesday, highlighting systemic violations in the implementation of MGNREGA, particularly in the material component of sanctioned works across at least 15 VECs.
The petition raises concerns over the blatant breach of the mandated 60:40 labour-to-material ratio, a surge in job card registrations—including alleged fake and duplicate entries—and the sanctioning of development works worth crores of rupees, with little or no physical progress observed on the ground. “What is unfolding in Demdema Block is not merely administrative negligence, but potentially a deeply entrenched nexus involving coordinated corruption. Material costs in many work orders have exceeded 70-80% of the project estimates—completely undermining the very intent of MGNREGA, which is to generate employment for the rural poor,” Momin stated.
The VECs named in the memorandum include Bangalkhata, Bholarbhita, Borshibandha, Chibinang, Pushkurnipara, among others, where discrepancies in sanctioned works and financial records allegedly run into crores of rupees.
According to Momin, preliminary reports from the SDO (Civil), Dadenggre, and ongoing directives from the State Rural Employment Society (SRES) for full job card verification corroborate these concerns. In some cases, forged muster rolls, ghost entries and inflated material bills have been informally acknowledged by officials on the ground, he stated.
Given the extent of misappropriation, Momin urged the chief minister to constitute an independent high-level inquiry panel comprising senior government officials, civil society members, and independent financial auditors.
COMSO has further requested that no further release of material component bills be permitted to the concerned VECs until the inquiry is completed.
Momin’s petition also called for the public disclosure of the findings of the SRES verification process and swift action against any officials or beneficiaries found complicit in the alleged scam.
“Misuse of both central and state funds under the guise of rural development not only undermines public trust but is a betrayal of the poorest sections of society,” Momin said, expressing confidence that the chief minister would take prompt and decisive action on the matter.
Copies of the petition have also been forwarded to the Mission Director of SRES, Deputy Commissioner of West Garo Hills, Director of the Vigilance & Anti-Corruption Bureau and Project Director of DRDA, Tura.
Meanwhile, Momin has reiterated COMSO’s commitment to supporting any investigation by providing necessary field data, testimonies and documentation to help the government restore transparency, justice and accountability in MGNREGA implementation in the region.

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