Diphupar ‘B’ villagers under the banner of ‘All Communities Forum’ convene at the DC’s office to submit their memorandum to the DC, Friday, April 8. (Morung Photo)
Dimapur, April 8 (MExN): Villagers of Diphupar ‘B’ in Dimapur have submitted a memorandum to the deputy commissioner of Dimapur pertaining to what it termed ‘anomalies’ in the functioning of the village council. The villagers under the banner of ‘All Communities Forum’ of Diphupar ‘B’ are opposing an order from the district administration through the SDO (Civil), which had directed the head GB of the village to ‘convene and a form a new village council’. The order was issued on March 29 last and had given a deadline of 10 days to fulfill the order.
On the other hand, the forum emphasized in the memorandum that it will not allow the formation of a new team to head the village council unless proper audit is conducted on the financial status of the council for the period 2002-2010. The forum appealed to the authorities in concern to review the directive from the SDO (Civil).
The forum alleged that the sitting members of the village council have been running the affairs of the council in an autocratic manner for the past eight years or so. Repeated appeals made by the villagers to the sitting members to furnish financial details of the council have gone to deaf ears, the forum alleged. It further claimed that no audits have been undertaken during the period and in the process misappropriated an unspecified amount of development funds meant for the village. The villagers, thus, brought it to the notice of the authority in concern.
In response, the district administration, through a directive from the office of the deputy commissioner on February 24 had ordered an audit of the council’s financial status for the period 2002-2010 under the supervision of the EAC of Chumukedima. Only after the audit, a new team to head the council was to be inducted as was instructed. Accordingly, the Chumukedima EAC issued a directive on March 1 instructing the head GB to appoint an audit committee on or before March 2 and the process of auditing be completed by March 15. It was further directed that all the documents and records maintained by the council during the period be submitted to the audit committee. Meanwhile, the head GB was authorized to discharge the powers of the village council until further orders. However, the audit could not be completed within the specified timeframe. The forum stated that no documents were furnished to conduct the audit. “… The Ex-Council Chairman, Ex-Council Secretary and VDB Secretary did not cooperate by furnishing the requisite documents pertaining to the auditable materials”, the forum stated in the memorandum.
The EAC Chumukedima issued a second directive on March 22, extending the time limit until March 31 with the cautioning that no further extension will be granted in this regard. The audit could not be completed still, the memorandum stated. Ironically, a directive contravening the earlier order was issued by the SDO (Civil), Dimapur dated March 29. “All existing Diphupar B village council/caretaker council are hereby dissolved.” “The hd. GB Diphupar B village is directed to convene and form a new village council within 10 days of issue of this office order”, a copy of the order furnished by the forum stated. The deadline expired April 8.
“That while taking faith in the administration expecting justice, a contrary order referred in the subject is received directly from SDO (C) Dimapur which clearly proved that the said office is encouraging the wrong doers and giving protection which cannot be comprised by the All Communities Forum, which is mandated by the General Public of the Diphupar ‘B’ village”, stated the forum in the memorandum to the DC.
While appealing the DC to review the said order in the interest of justice, the memorandum asserted: “… we assure that unless and until the audit is taken we the undersigned will not allow to form the new village council as directed by the said order.”
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