In J&K, NREGA funds are even used for political rallies

Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, May 4: Shocking it may sound but it is a fact that in Jammu and Kashmir the funds under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MG-NREGA) are even utilized for organizing political rallies instead of enhancing the livelihood security of people in rural areas by guaranteeing hundred days of wage-employment.
These startling revelations have come to the fore through Right to Information Act and led to filing of a writ petition in the High Court seeking disciplinary action against the erring officers and officials of the Rural Development Department and in-depth investigation regarding misappropriation of funds under this flagship scheme of the Union Government.
More shocking is that despite numerous directions from the High Court, the top brass of the Rural Development Department like Commissioner-Secretary and Director, who are supposed to act as watchdog to ensure implementation of this scheme in its true spirit, are reluctant to file reply to the petition highlighting blatant misuse of funds.
Following numerous complaints of the people of Block Manjakote in Rajouri district regarding misuse of the funds sanctioned under MGNREGA, a social activist Iskhtar Ali Khan filed an application under Right to Information Act before the Public Information Officer—Block Development Officer Manjakote and Assistant Commissioner Development, Rajouri.
When the information was not provided to the applicant, the latter preferred an appeal before the Ist Appellate Authority—Director Rural Development Department, Jammu, who decided the same with the direction to the PIO—the then BDO Manjakote Mohd Iqbal to provide requisite information to the applicant. Finally, the applicant received the information along with the certified copies of cash book, the perusal of which revealed misappropriation of funds.
As per the cash book of MGNREGA funds, an amount of Rs 21850 was paid to a tent service provider of Old Bus Stand Rajouri vide cheque No.558256 for making sitting arrangements during the public rally conducted by the then Minister for Finance, Abdul Rahim Rather and Minister of State, Shabir Ahmed Khan at Manjakote.
This clearly revealed that funds meant for the labourers were wrongly utilized by the concerned BDO for political rallies conducted at the behest of the then sitting MLA of the area. The record further established that ensuring political advantage to the then MLA was more dearer to the BDO than utilizing the funds for enhancing the livelihood security of people in rural areas by guaranteeing hundred days of wage-employment and ensuring development activities.
From the information made available to the applicant, some more revelations vis-à-vis misappropriation of funds came to the fore and this became the ground for filing of a writ in the High Court seeking detailed investigation into whole gamut and taking stern action against erring officers and officials.
In the month of January this year, State High Court issued notices to Commissioner Secretary, Rural Development Department, Director Rural Development Department Jammu and the then BDO returnable within four weeks. The High Court also issued directions to the respondents to file detailed affidavit along with a copy of MGNREGA scheme in response to the petition. However, there was no compliance from the respondents and now the High Court has given only one week’s time to the respondents for filing reply. The petition will be listed in the week commencing May 11, 2015.
Advocate Asheesh Kotwal appeared for the petitioner while as Additional Advocate General, Vishal Sharma appeared for the State.
Even the Comptroller and Auditor General of India in its latest report has exposed misappropriation of MGNREGA funds. It has detected false claim of credit of wages into non-existent bank accounts leading to embezzlement of Rs 40.25 lakh in Sopore and Wagoora blocks of Baramulla district.
The CAG has held lack of internal control and proper monitoring of transactions responsible for misappropriation of funds. Though an enquiry was ordered on the findings of CAG but its outcome remains a mystery thereby substantiating a demand for in-depth probe into misappropriation of MGNREGA funds by the State Vigilance Organization.

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