MGNREGS Ombudsman of Imphal East has issued directive to District Programme Co-ordinator, MGNREGA/Deputy Commissioner, Imphal East to initiate “appropriate disciplinary action” against officials and individuals who were allegedly involved in “criminal misconduct and misappropriation of funds” while executing MGNREGS work.
These officials include a Programme Officer, MGNREGA/Block Development Officer, Imphal East-I CD Block; the Panchayat Secretary, Haraurou-Tangkham Gram Panchayat; the Gram Rozgar Sahayak, Haraurou-Tangkham Gram Panchayat and the Section Officer /Technical Assistant and they have been involved in the implementation of the construction of Pucca drain of both sides of IVR from Ahanjao Lampak to Kalika Lairembi.
The District Programme Co-ordinator, MGNREGA/Deputy Commissioner, Imphal East has also been directed to lodge a complaint to the Police Station concerned for “drawing an FIR against (i) the then Programme Officer, MGNREGA/Block Development Officer, Imphal East-I CD Block (ii) the Panchayat Secretary, Haraurou-Tangkham Gram Panchayat, (iii) the Gram Rozgar Sahayak, Haraurou-Tangkham Gram Panchayat and (iv) the Section Officer /Technical Asst. concerned who are involved in the implementation of said work of construction of Pucca drain of both sides of IVR from Ahanjao Lampak to Kalika Lairembi under MGNREGS for misappropriation of fund and criminal misconduct including forging of signatures of the workers immediately under intimation to this office.”
According to a document, the District Programme Co-ordinator, MGNREGA/Deputy Commissioner, Imphal East has been asked to initiate action for issuing criminal prosecution sanction against the then Programme Officer, MGNREGA/Block Development Officer, Imphal East-I CD Block; the Panchayat Secretary, Haraurou-Tangkham Gram Panchayat; the Gram Rozgar Sahayak, Haraurou-Tangkham Gram Panchayat and the Section Officer /Technical Asst for trial at the earliest.
According to sources, the Ombudsman is said to have asked the complainants that they were at liberty to file a complaint to the Police against the erring parties and also to appropriate forums if they desires so.
Sources said it was evident from the reply submitted by erring parties and four affidavits submitted by the complainants and also from minute perusal of “admitted and disputed signatures” of the complainants, there was prima facie materials to show impersonation and forgery of signature in the muster rolls.
It has been observed that it was serious offence committed by the erring parties and thereby misappropriating funds allocated under the Act and Scheme for the welfare of rural poor.
