Apropos to the Article published in various Newspaper and penned by Shri Vepramu demo, Convenor,NREGA Cell Congress Bhavan, Kohima, it is pertinent to note that the Article has laid bare the facts about NREGA and the Common Beneficiaries and for which he must be lauded for his humble efforts.
Where as the NREGA was initiated and Brain child of our Late Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi who wanted its benefits to reach the common Villagers directly so as to enable them to earn their livelihood through manual guaranteed employment.
Sadly, the Project envisaged to benefit the rural Families has become a tool for political mileage in the State of Nagaland, where the ruling NPF is utilizing/diverting the funds of NREGA to suit their political and selfish means.
The concerned VDB Secretaries, BDOs and Project Officers are keeping the common Public in the dark and mis-utilizing the funds for purposes other then what it is meant for. In this regard some very crucial and important points to be noted are as follows.
East rural House hold was to be issued with job cards which entitles them a minimum 100 (One hundred) Days of guaranteed employment in one year. But so far in this area, no one has been issued Job Cards even when the concerned VDB Secys had already procured the Photographs of the Families more than a Year ago. The concerned Authorities should ensure that each and every Household should be issued the Job Cards and physically verify the same. The sanction of Funds should be transparent and in the Knowledge of all concerned.
Any project undertaken in the name of NREGA must benefit the common Public and the same should be prominently advertised/notified. The Remuneration paid to the Villagers must be properly scrutinized to avoid any mis-appropriation. Further the BDOs concerned should not indulge in issue of work orders without proper verification and in an arbitrary manner which may lead to Action against them under RTI Act.
The NREGA Schemes as per the Act should be solely done by the registered Families in the form of manual labour and immediate renumeration should be paid to the Public after due completion of the Work.
Common Public may not know all the nitty gritty of the Schemes under NREGA but all Public should know that they have the right to know A) that they are guaranteed hundred days of employment under NREGA. B) That, they have to be paid the renumeration for the same immediately. C) That, they are entitled to a job Card for the same. D) That, they have the right to know how much amount has been granted under NREGA to their Village) That, the concerned VDB Secys,BDO and the Project Officer of the District are the Supervisors of the Schemes and for any discrepancy in the Scheme, they shall be held responsible for the same.
The Congress Party Workers shall not be mute Spectators if any misappropriation is done in this regard and shall take appropriate measures and action against such defaulting Officers and Office Bearers who are depriving the general People of their employment rights under NREGA.
It also humbly appeals to all concerned to be sincere in the implementation of the Act and Scheme otherwise the NREGA may become NATIONAL RURAL EXPLOITATION GUARANTEE ACT instead of what it was envisaged for.
Yours Faithfully
Hunetsu Vero, President
16 A.C.C.C. Pfutsero
Kevisanyu Marhu
General Secretary
16 A.C.C.C. Pfutsero
