Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Oct 17: Congress has lashed out at the PDP-BJP Coalition Govt for the blatant violations of NREGA and Panchayat Raj norms in the allocation of plans especially MG-NREGA funds, leading to the gross irregularities in the system and misuse of the scheme.
In a statement, PCC chief spokesman Ravinder Sharma has said that the favoritism and political interference has defeated the very purpose of MGNREGA and led to misuse of the scheme. He said that the plans are formulated in the Panchayat ignoring the Gram Sabhas which is against the basic spirit of democracy and Panchayat Raj system. He said that even in the absence of elected Panchayats, the Gram Sabha is a permanent feature and has to be consulted for the formations of plans by the concerned agencies.
Since this Coalition Govt has taken over it, ignored and bypassed the Panchayats and after the completion of the tenure of the Panchayats, it has become the only discretion of ruling leaders to allocate the funds purely on political consideration. This is the worst kind of the example of mis-governance and working of Gram Sabhas. Since this, Govt came to power, the ruling legislators usurped the powers of Panchayats and hijacked the plans of Panchayats. Now, when Panchayat representatives have completed the tenure, it has become a weapon of political favoritism in total violation of its norms and purpose and blatant misuse of the scheme.
He said no rules or procedures are being adopted except on papers and it has become the soul discretion of ruling legislators to allocate and announce the MGNREGA funds, as per sweet will or other considerations.
PCC leader alleged that PDP-BJP has made the Panchayat Raj System totally defunct and usurped the rights of the general population in the Panchayats in a participatory democracy. Not only this, the Govt has introduced contractor regime and open use of machinery in the execution of MNERGA works which is a total violations of the scheme and defeat its very purpose, he added.
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