Dimapur, May 31 (MExN): The Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC) today reminded the MLA representing 33 Suruhuto/Asuto Assembly Constituency to respond to the query whether there was anything such as a “VIP quota” from the rural employment scheme, National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGA).
The NPCC issued a statement though its vice president Khutovi Sema asking Shetoyi Sumi that “I comfortably sitting in Dimapur would like to remind the MLA that he has not replied to my one question, ‘Is there any VIP quota in NREAG fund?’”
Khutovi thanked the MLA of 33A/C Suruhuto/Asuto “for taking his time and responding in short notice” and for “understanding what NREGA now known as MHREGA stands for and the importance of these schemes to the poor and needy.” The NPCC listed the funds sanctioned for Suruhuto under NREGA according to the RD Directorate: The amount release for the year 2008-2009 against work order: Rs 2,07,50,500; the amount released for the year 2009-2010 against work order: Rs 4,17,15,900; the total amount released against work order issued (March 2010) Rs 6,24,66,400; the total amount released without procuring work order (March 2010) Rs 23,68,200.
“My views, criticisms and ideas are totally rational as of any public trying to do his or her best for the welfare of the state and its future. Having said that, I comfortably sitting in Dimapur would like to remind the MLA that he has not replied to my one question, ‘Is there any VIP quota in NREAG fund?’ and did he not announce himself the amount of funds to be deducted in Suruhuto meeting on 15th May 2010? Once again I remind, with an audience of village elders, party workers and students.”
The NPCC queried the MLA is the stated amount of funds released have actually been utilized for the welfare of the area’s people. “As for the invitation of physically verifying the villages, I assure the MLA that work has already been started and in time we will tour Suruhuto area,” Sema added.
On May 30, the NPCC surfaced with allegation pointing to “VIP quota” from NREGA funds to MLAs and ministers allegedly ‘ordered’ by the state government. The NPCC said the state government allegedly issued orders entitling an MLA to deduct “60%” and a minister “40%” from “any NREGA fund” in the respective legislator’s constituency.
The NPCC had stated: “For one instance, in 33 A/C Suruhuto/Asuto, the honorable MLA and Suruhuto BDO are individually claiming in their own ways convincing the villagers that the DAN Govt has implemented a resolution that VIP quotas will be deducted from every village and every constituency. No job cards are being issued to the villagers; rather the BDO Suruhuto has or claims has given all the job cards to the VDB Secretary for safe keeping in his office in the pretext that the villagers will lose them. Most astonishing, the villagers have no knowledge whether job cards are even issued in their names.”
Khutovi also stated another instance: “In one VDB Secretary meeting at Zunheboto on 17th April 2010, Suruhuto BDO expressed that as per Govt. order an MLA is entitled to deduct 60% and a minister can deduct 40% from any NREGA fund in his or her constituency. Another incident on 15th May 2010 at Suruhuto town council hall with an audience of village elders, party workers and students as witnesses, the MLA himself announced that all Govt. legislatures (sic) has resolved to deduct VIP quotas from NREGA fund. As announced an MLA has the right to deduct 40%, a parliamentary secretary 35% and a minister 25% from his or her Constituency's NREGA fund.”
