Rabi Takhellambam
Imphal,Oct.24: Imphal East ombudsman, MGNREGS has directed the Deputy Commissioner, Imphal East, who is also the District Programme Co-ordinator, MGNREGA to initiate disciplinary action against the Panchayat Secretary of Thongju Part-II Gram Panchayat for his alleged intentional denial to furnish the documents related to work program executed under Mahatama Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act.The MGNREGS Ombudsman office of Imphal east also instructed the Panchayat Secretary of Thongju Part-II Gram Panchayat to furnish the documents including copies of sanction orders, detail of abstract of cost along with the muster roll, APRs/vouchers and detail report of social audit, Copy of dag chitha indicating the plot number of the work place and Copy of relevant documents of the concerned bank being transacted by the authority for the work free of cost; within one month from the date of receipt of the directive under intimation to this office.Sources available to IMPHAL TIMES informed that one job card holder Thokchom Nabakishor Singh, son of late Th. Heramot Singh of Thongju Part-II Pitchu Lampak, Imphal East District, lodged a complaint with the Imphal East Ombudsman, MGNREGS praying for taking action against the Panchayat Secretary of Thongju Part II Gram Panchayat for non-furnishing of the information and not allowing to inspect the documents for the construction work of Improvement of Koirou Lambi to Ibudhou Koirou Lakpa under MGNREGS. With the said Panchayat secretary failing to furnish the documents pertaining to the work program, Imphal East Ombudsman, MGNREGS, Wahengbam Joykumar on September 29 instructed the DC, Imphal East to initiate disciplinary action against the panchayat secretary while alleging him to be behaving as “unbecoming of a public/government servant”.Sources further revealed that on July 8, Thokchom Nabakumar, a job card holder under MGNREGS sought information from the Panchayat secretary under RTI act regarding a work program Improvement of road between Koirou Lambi to Ibudhou Koirou Lakpa under MGNREGS. About 500 job card holders were engaged for construction of the 173 feet long road stretch that took six days. For the said work, a sum of Rs 6.425 was invested and the job card workers were utilized for spreading the earth brought by trucks from hillside just to cover the said roads. With the said Panchayat secretary failing to furnish the documents sought by the job card holder within 7 days which is specified time period in the Act and Scheme, he lodged a complaint with Imphal east Ombudsman office under complain no.06 of 2014 on july 18, 2014.Consequently, Ombudsman Imphal east issued a notice was to the Panchayat secretary requesting him to redress the grievance of the complainant by 30.7.2014 or appear before this office in person or by an authorized agent on 31st July 2014 at 11.00 a.m. with a written reply to the complaint along with relevant copy of documents required by the complainant. However, the panchayat secretary did not either redress the grievances of the Complainant or turn up on the said appointed day. Hence, on 8th August 2014, another notice has been served requesting him to submit all the relevant documents requested earlier and also present in office of the undersigned on 16th August 2014 at 11.30 am but he had failed to comply it also. Again on 22nd August 2014, another notice was issued requesting him to redress the grievances of the Complainant once again by 29th August 2014 or attend in this office and submit a written reply along with the documents called on 30th August 2014. As the Respondent has failed to response the above said notices despite of repeated requested, on 30th August 2014, a decision for final hearing had been taken and on 8th September 2014, a notice has been issued to the Panchayat Secretary, Thongju Part-II Gram Panchayat, Imphal East-II CD Block to attend the final hearing and submit objection if any on 16th September 2014, informed the source.
