Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Sept 7: Expressing disappointment over the approach of the Rural Development Deptt (RDD) authorities for failing to take cognizance of more than a dozen cases of irregularities and bunglings in the Department brought to their notices, the NPP chairman and former Minister Harsh Dev Singh today sought the indulgence of the State Governor for probing the frauds being committed in the Department with impunity.
He regretted that despite widespread public clamour against the loot and plunder of Rural Development funds especially under MG-NREGA, including written complaints and media reports of irregularities, no action has been initiated by the authorities concerned due to their vested interests.
Harsh Dev pointed out that the recent episode wherein one of the employees of RDD namely Ravinder Singh working as GRS in Khoon block of district Udhampur tendered resignation alleging widespread corruption in the Department should be an eye opener for the Govt. He said that in his resignation letter Ravinder Singh said that he was intimidated, besides feeling suffocated in the RDD due to persistent pressures from his corrupt colleagues to sign fake bills and upon his resistance he was given life threats.
Mr Singh said that he was also approached by the said Ravinder Singh, besides several other deputations who pointed out glaring irregularities besides violation of MG-NREGA Act and guidelines which were duly conveyed to concerned authorities. He regretted not to speak of action against the culprits, the Department authorities have failed to initiate any enquiry or even to question the delinquents.
Inviting the attention of the Governor and the Chief Minister towards the frauds having been committed under MG-NREGA, Mr Singh said that the innocent, gullible people of the rural areas were being robbed of the benefits envisaged for them under the scheme. He said that appointment of ombudsman was deliberately being avoided at the behest of corrupt elements in the Department, who had amassed huge wealth and raised assets by looting the funds meant for poor villagers and which needed to be thoroughly probed.
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