Patiala: MGNREGA Wage Payments Under Scrutiny
Authorities in Patiala have initiated a probe following a complaint that many laborers allegedly received wages under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) Scheme “without performing any work” in a village in the Nabha sub-division of Patiala district.
Raj Kumar Kansuha, president of the Democratic MGNREGA Front Punjab, filed a complaint with the Punjab CEO on Wednesday, accusing the block development and panchayat officer (BDPO) and additional programme officer (APO) of buying votes in favor of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) by paying wages to numerous laborers in Malkon village in April despite no work being done.
Kansuha provided details of the total number of laborers who were paid during the imposition of the poll code, claiming that the online attendance of laborers, which should include their onsite pictures, did not comply with the guidelines. Furthermore, he alleged that some Rural Employment Guarantee Act projects were already completed.
In his complaint, Kansuha said, “Even the projects are fake as there is no requirement of leveling of ground at village cremation ground and the same can be verified from the village.” “No work took place in the park also for which so many workers are being paid. While Gram Rozgar Sahayak (GRS) initiated these fake projects and issued muster rolls signed by BDPO, the technical assistant also cleared the fake measurement of the workers on the basis of which final payment is done,” the complaint said.
Kansuha further said, “It is the talk of the town that the BDPO and the APO are trying to woo voters by paying laborers without any work. One such evidence from Malko village is being presented for your scrutiny and a random check in other villages will highlight such rampant practice.”
Nabha sub-divisional magistrate Tarsem Chand said, “The complainant has registered the complaint at National Grievances Service Portal (NGSP). We have sought the reply from BDPO (Nabha).”
