IT News
Imphal, Aug 17:
More irregularities in the functioning of the Manipur Building and Other Construction Workers’ Welfare Board (MBOCWWB), Labour Department, Government of Manipur has been found out after the then Chairperson of the MBOCWWB sent a legal notice to Imphal Times for publishing a news item which stated that the then Chairperson Sanglakpam Preshyojit Sharma had sanctioned an amount of Rs. 13,18,16,800/- for taking up skill development programmes to an NGO called Rural Social Service Society, at which the Chairman himself was the Chief Functionary as well as the General Secretary of the NGO.
On June 10, 2020, the State Public Information Officer of the MBOCWWB, L. Bijeta Devi, while providing information sought through the Right to Information (RTI) Act, has stated that the MBOCWWB has no information about the annual report and audited copy of account along with auditor’s report of the MBOCWWB for the year 2016-17 & 2017-18.
On July 29, 2020, in a legal notice served to Imphal Times, by the counsel of former Chairperson MBOCWWB Sanglakpam Preshyojit Sharma in connection with a news report under the heading – “Labour Minister’s brother-in-law sanctions over Rs. 13 crores for skill development Training Programme, when he was the Chairman of MBOCWWB to his own NGO” published on July 25, 2020 issue, it is stated that, “All the alleged NGOs submitted their annual report to concern authority in time. In addition, the Department of Accountant General (AG) had conducted audit for the relevant year as usual, i.e. during the tenure of Sanglakpam Preshyojit Sharma as Chairperson MBOCWWB.
On June 10, 2020, the SPIO of MBOCWWB L. Bijeta Devi had stated that the MBOCWWB has no information about the annual report, and audited copy of accounts or the auditor’s report, how could the former Chairman Sanglakpam Preshyojit Sharma in the legal notice to Imphal Times stated that they have all the record. This is clear evidence of irregularities being practice, as the office has the intention to hide information sought through RTI.
Or else it is nothing but humiliation and dishonour to the Right to Information (RTI) Act by the SPIO, L. Bijeta.
