Fraudulent drawals of funds by RDD staff in Rajouri
Gopal Sharma
JAMMU, Apr 28: The Rural Development Department (RDD), which has attained the dubious distinction of being in the limelight for several scandals and irregularities in the past, has yet again drawn the attention of Governor’s Administration after a complaint was received with regard to massive fraudulent drawals worth lakhs under MGNREGA Scheme in Rajouri district.
Interestingly, paying scant regards to the directive, not less than Governor’s Advisor, the officers at the helm of affairs, have been sitting on the files for the last about seven months, with “zero outcome” of the `so called’ inquiry. Not only this, order of the Deputy Commissioner Rajouri, dated 26-09-2018 with regard to the probe has also been taken lightly by the officers in the RDD office Rajouri and Additional Deputy Commissioner’s office at Kalakote.
Official sources revealed that the strong VLW, GRS nexus with some influential key-officials in the RDD has been indulging in the plunder and misuse of public money sent by Union Government under MGNREGA Scheme and filling their own coffers by making fraudulent drawals on the names of their relatives and favourites. The general public and aware citizens if dare to raise voice, the same is gagged or go unheard due to official apathy, thus encouraging the corrupt people.
The same has happened in district Rajouri during last two and half years, where despite massive plunder of public funds under MGNREGA Scheme, the probe has been scuttled by the people at the helm of affairs in the RDD.
Deputy Commissioner , Rajouri Aijaz Ahmed Asad after receiving directions from the top had directed ACD, Rajouri in his letter dated 13-09-2018 for necessary action but the officers including Assistant Commissioner Development, RDD Rajouri, others remained inactive due to the reason best known to them. Another copy has been routed through the Directorate of Rural Development Jammu from the office of Administrative Secretary, but the issue remained mere in files.
In the complaint, the aggrieved members from the concerned Panchayats provided record and also mentioned about the names of close relatives of the GRS and few other staff members on whose name fraudulent drawals were made. They even pin pointed several works which were not executed on the grounds but the funds worth lakhs were withdrawn by the officials. This has not happened only in the Panchayats Panglar and Kot Charwal in Khawas but also in several Panchyats of Kalakote Block.
The documents in possession of Excelsior, indicated that fraudulent drawals in one case were made on the names of 11 family members of a GRS from Khawas including his three Bhabhis and four brothers, with possible connivance of a few senior officials. It is being believed that such transactions are not possible without the involvement of concerned bank employees and the DDOs. The data also revealed that payments were with-drawn on the name of some beneficiaries, who actually did not get any money. The fraudulent entries are needed to be investigated in the muster rolls by checking up with the actual beneficiaries, one of the complainant, Manzoor Ahmed said.
Assistant Commissioner Development, Rajouri, Akhtar Hussain Qazi when contacted and asked about the fate of the inquiry, said that he remembered about complaints of this nature from Khawas and Kalakote Blocks and he had directed BDO Rajnagar, Salam Din to hold probe into the matter and submit report. But the matter pertains to prior to his tenure here in the district.
“Regarding report, I have to verify from office record but still I believe no such report has been received by him so far, “ Qazi said.
The ACD, however, avoided to respond to some other questions and maintained that everything is online and payments go directly into the accounts of beneficiaries.
Deputy Commissioner, Rajouri, Aijaz Ahmed Asad when asked about the outcome of the inquiry which he had ordered on September 13, 2018 with regard to large scale fraudulent drawals and bungling in MGNREGA works in Khawas block, said he had directed ACD/ ADM Kalakote to hold inquiry and submit report within one week. Not only this, ACD Rajouri, Akhtar Qazi was also directed to hold thorough inquiry and submit report but as on date his office has not received reports. He expressed surprise over the matter and said he would act strictly, now.
The DC said he would pursue the matter again and seek explanation from the officers. He said strict action under law would be taken against the people involved in the fraudulent drawals and committing irregularities in the MGNREGA Scheme. He said his office has received many complaints against some RDD officials especially pertaining to MGNREGA works and he would expedite inquiries of this nature. “ Being involved in election activities, I could not spare much time for review of such activities. But, I assure the guilty would not be spared,” the Deputy Commissioner asserted.
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