DIMAPUR — Nagaland Transparency, Public Rights Advocacy and Direction Action Organisation (NTPRADAO) stated that the recent statement of Nagaland State VDB Secretaries’ Association (NSVDBA) in defending the Rural Development (RD) department was done with an ‘ulterior motive, malicious intent, which was uncalled for and a very shameful act.’
NTPRADAO has questioned NSVDBA if the association is duly and legally recognised body, accepted and acknowledged by all the village board chairmen in Nagaland and whether the recent press statement against NTPRADAO was validated by the entire 16 districts VDB Secretaries’ Association and its full team of state office bearers. It also questioned if the NSVDBA was also partner in the share of the alleged INR 74 crore magnitude of misappropriation meant for the public.
It further questioned if the ‘so-called’ NSVDBA is liable as to be made one of the respondent in the event of a vigilance SIT investigation, PIL, FIR to be filed by RTI applicant jointly with NTPRADAO and also in the matter of CBI, NIA and Enforcement Directorate etc.
Meanwhile, NTPRADAO has asked the RD department to furnish concrete answers if the supporting statement by NSVDBA was true.
It has asked the RD department to show proof of the material/ item receipts received by each beneficiaries along with the actual location (constructed house photos) as evidence if the department has given materials such as cement, rod, sand and wood etc as stated instead of cash to the beneficiaries.
RD department was also asked to produce cash receipts given to each beneficiaries along with the actual location (constructed house photos) as evidence if the department has given cash to some of the beneficiaries in order to build houses.
Further, RD department was asked to furnish bank statement of each of the beneficiaries along with the actual location (constructed house photos) as evidence if the department has given direct bank transfer (DBT) through the PFMS mode to the beneficiaries as stated.
NTPRADAO affirmed that its 15-day ultimatum to the chief minister has been fixed and cautioned that drastic course of action is in the offing if no action was initiated before the expiry of the stipulated time.
VDB not the right authority to respond
Nagaland Public Rights Awareness and Action Forum (NPRAAF) on Tuesday insisted that the state government is answerable to the allegations made against the Rural Development department on misuse of huge sum of public fund.
Responding to the clarification made by Nagaland State VDB Secretaries’ Association (NSVDBA), NPRAAF stated that VDB should only clarify whether MGNREGA funds continue to be disbursed by the VDB to the job card holders directly for those beneficiaries who do not have bank account to access direct benefit transfer (DBT); whether it’s true that, the government deposit in the joint account of VDB through an account payee cheque to be disbursed to the beneficiaries directly; and whether it is true that substantial deductions are made by the VDB on account of expenses incurred on behalf of the MGNREGA job card holders to receive the fund from the government.
NPRAAF also stated that VDB should also enlighten the public by giving district wise break-up, number of job card holder beneficiaries through DBT account transfer and number of job card holders, who receives in cash through VDB.
It also requested the VDB to clarify by giving a district wise break-up and enlighten the public which district receives more of man days wage. It further urged the VDB to clarify whether 100 days employment wage guaranteed by MGNREGA Act 2005 is implemented in totality by the department and, if so, which district fully implements as per government of India guidelines.
