Dimapur, July 7 (MExN): The Congress party today alleged that the special investigation team instated to probe the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGA) “enjoyed the hospitality of DRDA Zunheboto.” The SIT then “connived” with the DRDA and held secret meetings and signed documents saying that the records are in order, PCC members said today.
To address complaints in Nagaland over the implementation of the scheme, the Ministry of Rural Department New Delhi had instituted a special investigation team for Nagaland. “This team arrived at Zunheboto on 5th July 2010 for investigation. On learning that the SIT team for MGNREGA is reaching Zunheboto on the 5th of July 2010, the undersigned members reached Zunheboto on the same day to receive them and to offer any form of assistance but were cleverly avoided. The SIT officials led by Shri. Mutsuthan Kithan OSD RD, Kohima, reached Zunheboto at 1.00. pm. And on having enjoyed the hospitality of DRDA department, the tour program for investigation team was hijacked. The SIT then connived with the department and summoned the DRDA meetings secretly where they signed that the documents recorded are in order,” the Congress alleged in a note today. The note was appended by former legislators Khutovi Aye, Hukavi Zhimomi and also Inavi Jimomi, all PCC members.
The Congress leaders also alleged that the probe team members were “led to believe that there was no problem in Zunheboto district regarding MGNERGA implementation and thus the team visited only Aotsakilimi village under Atoizu constituency, when the real complainants for MGNREGA funds were Zunheboto, Satakha, and Surhuto.”
“34 villages in Satakha, 17 villages in Zunheboto and 29 villages in Surhuto eagerly awaited for the SIT team so that they can redress their grievances and clarify the anomalies for implementation of MGNREGA. However, to our surprise only a single village was visited and a closed door records were signed. This has left the poor rural house holders disheartened and at a loss,” the Congress said.
The credibility of the SIT team for MGNREGA and DRDA officials for their “investigation” in Zunheboto district is questioned by the Congress.
