Addl. Chief Secretary is running the department at his will; withdraw money using his signature violating official procedure
Imphal, April 9: Much has been taken by the new government to eradicate corruption as well as to streamline good governance in the state. Even though this government has taken up many good cause somewhere, at some department the very word transparency appeared to be another joke.
Nothing has been made clear on who is the Principal Secretary of Labour and Employment department since 2016. Nothing has been officially notified by following proper procedure on who is present chairman of the Manipur Building and Other Construction Welfare Board. Whether the state government notification NO. 5/254/97 – Lab (Pt) dated November 16, 2015 has been amended or not remain as a big question to every citizen.
This is being stated as there has been no government notification regarding the replacement of Principal Secretary by Additional Chief Secretary to empower him as the competent signatory for the Labour Department. Source said that after Suhel Aktar has been promoted to Additional Chief Secretary he has been withdrawing fund by signing his promoted designation instead of Principal Chief Secretary, which is a complete violation of the government guidelines.
As according to the resolution number 6(ii) adopted during the 9th meeting of the Board held on 14/4/2016 at 11.30 am at its office premises it was stated that selection of the Skill Development Training of Registered Building and other Construction workers and their spouse and dependent children/sibling shall be done first by the Welfare Board and then by the training provider.
As per source available from the members of the Board it has come to know that except for one applicant.
Report with the Imphal Times said that Additional Chief Secretary Dr. Suhel Aktar has been still acting as the Principal Secretary Labour and another E Tomba Singh has been acting as the Secretary of Manipur Building and other construction workers welfare board. Some of the members alleged that huge amount of money has been sanctioned even though members have knowledge of only one applicant for Skill Development Training.
Question arises now is that, who are those selected candidates for the skill development training programme and how many of them had applied.
The source further added that during an enquiry conducted for fraudulence case against an Inspector of the Labour Department Identified as I. Subashchandra, Additional Chief Secretary Dr. Suhel Aktar and Secretary E Tomba had recovered a sum of Rs. 1,75,000/- from him. The money was reportedly collected using fake receipt book. However, whereabouts of the money recovered has not been let known to the members of the board.
On the other hand, there are also reports that some of the Inspector of the Labour department are issuing card to applicants by skipping the official procedures.
What is more interesting is that the existence of Board members Manipur Building and Other Construction Welfare Board has been ignored and all activities are being carried out at the will of Mr. Suhel Aktar and Secretary E Tomba.
It is also learnt that both , Additional Chief Secretary Dr. Suhel Aktar and Secretary E Tomba are still signing on financial matters.
Question now arises is – how could official procedure be violated by a top class bureaucrat even after knowing that he is not the competent authority to sign for financial transaction. Something seems to be not right in this department government.
