Corruption bedevils rural job scheme in Kalahandi

The Pioneer, June 19, 2009
Bikash Khemka | Bhawanipatna

The National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS), the biggest anti-poverty scheme for rural people in the history of India, is gradually becoming less of an employment guarantee drive for them and more of an income guarantee opportunity for most of the concerned officials.

The district of Kalahandi was in wide discussion publicly last year for the failure in implementation of the NREGS Central scheme at Chancher GP under Bhawanipatna block during the time of then Collector Pramod Patnaik, when six irresponsible officials were dragged to court after their suspension for embezzlement of Government funds and recovery was made by the court.

The same thing has happened again here at Gudialipadar Gram Panchayat under Bhawanipatna Block, situated hardly 8 km away from the town where names of dead persons, physically challenged persons and migrant labourers have been included in the muster roll and their wage money has been siphoned off by the concerned officials.

Talking to The Pioneer, Gudialipadar Naib Sarpanch Dinabandhu Saha said he had complained to the Collector of Kalahandi, R Santhgopalan, on July 19, 2008 in the presence of PD, DRDA about the irregularities done by the Panchayat officers, Sarpanch and others but to no avail. When no action was taken by the District Administration, he further complained through a letter sent by courier on October 23, 2008 with all documentary evidences. After a long wait, the Naib Sarpanch again met the Collector on January 24, 2009. Besides this, he had also submitted a written complaint to the Chief Minister, Revenue Commissioner and Vigilance Department of Jeypore.

At last, the district administration served a notice to the Gudialipadar Panchayat officials for an inquiry into the matter on June 17, 2009 following which the APD, DRDA, Kalahandi reached Gudialipadar Panchayat recently.

The Naib Sarpanch alleged before the APD that the road work estimated at Rs 5 lakh under NREGS fund from Goudpada to Kurlubhata Road of Sardhapur village was constructed in two phases between March 16-29, 2007 and May 25-June 10, 2007. It was revealed that three physically challenged and mentally retarded persons namely Pandara Deep, Jaleswar Majhi and Rama Mahananda were issued job cards for 12 days and Rs 1,135, Rs 1,017, Rs 922 have been siphoned off in the muster roll by the concerned officials but neither they have done any work nor they have got any percentage from the corrupt officials. Similarly another physically challenged married women namely Rajeswari Majhi, wife of Debarchan Majhi of Upkabhata, Gananathpur has been included in the muster roll and the money has also been embezzled.

It was further alleged that two dead persons, Padu Sabar and Kala Mani Sabar, who had both died on August 9, 2006 have been shown in the muster roll and their money has also been siphoned off. The Naib Sarpanch also complained that muster rolls have been partly filled up in the name of migrant labourers. The inquiry in this regard is going on.