DIMAPUR, SEPTEMBER 26 (MExN): The Yimchungrü Akherü Arihako (YAA) today informed the Director for Rural Development, Nagaland that villages under Rural Development Block of Shamator, Chessore, Pungro and Khongsa were “allegedly induced to put their initial/signature on a VDB cheque book of their respective villages by your esteemed office.” In a letter to the Director, the YAA said that “whereas, the VDB Secretaries inexplicable of the matter in concern has further provoked altercation amongst the public.”
As such, the YAA sought certain clarifications (in written) from the RD Director before October 15. The YAA stated that deduction of MGNREGA funds under Shamator and Chessore Block of Tuensang District is 40% (approx) out of the total sanctioned amount. “And the same matter with the Pungro and Khongsa block under Kiphire District of which the deduction is amounting to 50% of total sanctioned amount,” it added. The YAA said that the VDB Secretaries “were allegedly forced to sign blank cheques which is very questionable and cannot be tolerated.” It questioned the department for deducting such a huge amount, and asked that the department “furnish the documents on which acts and guidelines the deductions are being done.” It also urged the department to “penalize those erring BDOs for forcing the VDB Secretaries to sign a couple of cheque of which the other is for the department deduction.”
The YAA also alleged that the convergence funds are diverted from the MGNREGA of job card holders. It asked the department to furnish the documents on which acts and guidelines the MGNREGA funds were “diverted as ‘Convergence fund’ which is actually sanctioned for the villagers/job card holders.”
It further appealed to the RD Director to initiate disciplinary action against the BDO, Pungro for allegedly threatening the “VDB Secretaries to sign blank cheque stating that it is the directive of the higher department authority and the demand of the Union Minister for Rural Development as a bribe against the sanction of MGNREGA.”
The YAA demanded that the department intimate any action taken against the officers in writing. Seeking redress of this issue within the stipulated time, the YAA cautioned that failure to do so would compel it to “initiate further necessary measures.”
