Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Aug 2: Alleging large scale irregularities and bunglings in the MG-NREGA funds in the Rural Development Department, senior NPP leader and former minister Harsh Dev Singh today demanded probe into the plunder of these funds in State.
In a press statement here today, Mr Singh also questioned the State Govt for causing in-ordinate delay in the appointment of ombudsmen. He said that the Union Govt had issued instructions to all State Govts in 2009 for immediate creation of the institution of ombudsmen at district level in their respective States so as to check pilferage of rural development and employment guarantee funds provided to the States under the scheme. He regretted that while the state of J&K has availed thousands of crores under the said national flagship programme, it has failed to initiate any action whatsoever with regard to appointment of ombudsmen in the State.
Mr Singh further said that in the absence of ombudsmen in various districts, the funds under the NREGA scheme were being looted and plundered by unscrupulous officials in connivance with certain vested interests. He alleged that flagrant violation of GoI stipulated norms in identification and execution of works, extremely poor quality works, inflated billing, withdrawal of payments for non-existent works, diversion of funds, non provision of employment to job card holders etc were the general complaints of the public in rural areas visited by him.
NPP leader regretted that even the complaints filed by him with helmsmen regarding the blatant violations and other irregularities in MG-NREGA in district Udhampur on basis of feedback received from the ground, had failed to elicit any response from concerned quarters
Seeking immediate action for appointment of ombudsmen, Mr Singh cautioned that any further delay would invite strong public reaction with Panthers Party holding protests outside offices of various RDD officers including the Ministers concerned. He said that the appointment of ombudsmen, having powers to take disciplinary as well as punitive action against offenders under the MG-NREGA Act, would further serve as a deterrent upon the corrupt and dishonest functionaries of the Rural Development Department.
Trending Now
E-Paper
Follow our WhatsApp channel