VDBs’ opposition to villagers’ benefit sinister—ACAUT

Dimapur, Sep. 20 (EMN): The Against Corruption and Unabated Taxation (ACAUT) has noted with misgivings the objection of the Nagaland State VDB Association (NSVDBA) to the Nagaland government’s plan to implement Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT). The organisation issued a press release on Wednesday calling “nefarious” the justifications of the VDB in wanting to do away with the programme for the rural poor. “The lavish life styles of BDOs and VDB secretaries are testament for all Nagas to see,” the ACAUT declared. The objection of the NSVDBA to the state government’s plan to implement the DBT is “most insidious reaction,” the ACAUT stated. “The VDB association’s claim that by suddenly implementing DBT the very purpose of the noble programme (MGNREGA) will be defeated is utter nonsense. The people of Nagaland are all too familiar with the nefarious intention of the association in objecting to the DBT and how the purpose of this noble program has turned out to be anything but noble is known to all.” Further, the ACAUT stated, the argument by the NSVDBA that the present system of implementing MNREGA programme by the Nagaland state VDBs is “much better than many other states is true in the sense that the system works much better for the corrupt Rural Development dept. and the VDBs since there’s much to loot under the present system of unaccountability.” Further, the anti-corruption noted the association’s claim that by introducing DBT at this stage the poor rural job holders will be ‘victimized.’ The ACAUT would beg to differ with this argument and so would the rest of Nagaland since the only victims of DBT would be the RD officials and the VDBs. “The lavish life styles of BDOs and VDB secretaries are testament for all Nagas to see,” the press release stated. The reaction has only “exposed their sinister design and is most shameful,” the group stated. The NSVDBA asking other NGO’s and organization not to meddle in the affairs of the VDBs has only ‘unmasked their garb of pretending to be working for the welfare of the people.’ The ACAUT has urged the government of Nagaland not to fall for the “insidious ploy” but to ‘do the right thing for the poor and helpless rural folks of Nagaland especially by undertaking immediate measures to facilitate job card holders to easily open their bank accounts and ensuring that it is linked with Aadhaar. “The people of Nagaland will wait with bated breath whether the government of Nagaland will sway to the whims and fancies of a few vested individuals or work in favour of the people, whether the Govt wins or will give in to few profiteers working under the garb of association. Ultimately it will be a test for T.R. Zeliang’s government rhetoric of working for the good of the people,” the press release added. But will the NSVDBA please explain... In the meantime, the ACAUT the asked the NSVDBA to clarify how the amount of Rs. 1500 cr. ‘plus’ released for 2016-17 was utilized. “In the meantime, the NSVDBA may explain how the amount of Rs. 1500 Cr plus released for MNREGA 2016-17 was utilised since the Finance Department has been unable to explain the suspected double withdrawals. Maybe the NSVDBA has a better explanation,” the ACAUT added.