Bungling in MGNREGA, IAY schemes in Doda
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Jan 4: Taking serious note of abuse of Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act and Indira Awas Yojana scheme in different parts of Doda district, the Division Bench of State High Court comprising Chief Justice N Paul Vasanthakumar and Justice Bansi Lal Bhat has restrained the Block Development Officers (BDOs) from utilization of funds kept at their disposal till further orders and issued notices to the Commissioner Secretary and Director of the Rural Development Department.
The directions were passed after analyzing the report of State Vigilance Organization mentioning that fraudulent acts have been committed by the concerned BDOs in implementation of MGNREGA and IAY scheme in Gandoh and Bhalessa areas of Doda district.
In the Public Interest Litigation (PIL) titled Zakir Hussain and Others Versus State of J&K and Others filed through Advocate S K Puri, the Division Bench of the State High Court had directed the State Vigilance Organization (SVO) to conduct probe into the allegations and submit status report about its findings.
The SVO, in its status report, has submitted that on the basis of the complaint the Central Vigilance Office has given authorization for open verification into the matter and the same has been entrusted to Tahair Ashraf, Superintendent of Police.
“The complainant has alleged that the names of the persons have been fraudulently reflected in the records and payments shown made to them for the construction/repair of the houses under IAY Scheme”, the report said, adding “one Juman Choudhary has been paid Rs 46,000 for the construction of his house whereas the same person is already having a pacca house. Similarly, one Hasham Din has been provided Rs 46,000 for the construction of his residential house but he is already having his own residential house”.
“One Munir Ahmed Sheikh and others have shown the expense of about Rs 3 lakh for the construction of Passenger Shed at Seri Bala whereas the complainant has alleged that no passenger shed has been constructed on the ground”, the SVO said, adding “many other fraudulent acts have been committed by the concerned BDOs and the other staff under MGNREGA scheme by misusing their position by drawing the payments against underage job card holders and even dead persons”.
“The requisite record has been called from the concerned blocks and after its scrutiny on spot verification will be conducted”, the status report said.
After perusing the status report, the DB said, “in the report it is stated that fraudulent acts have been committed by the concerned BDOs and the other staff under MGNREGA by misusing their position by drawing the payments against underage job card holders and even dead persons”. With these observations, DB issued notice to the Commissioner Secretary and Director Rural Development Department returnable within three weeks.
“Pending further orders, the funds received by the concerned BDOs shall not be released to private persons”, the DB made it clear in the order.
In another PIL titled Ashiq Hussain and Others Versus State of J&K also filed through Advocate S K Puri, the DB said, “the status report produced by the respondents states that after enquiry it has been provided that loss of Rs 3.81 lakh has been caused to the State exchequer and the sanction is being obtained for filing action taken report”.
The DB directed listing of both the PILs on February 23, 2016 for passing further orders.
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