ACAUT has termed the objection raised by Nagaland State VDB Association (NSVDBA) to the state government’s plan to implement Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) under MGNREGA as “most insidious reaction.”
In a press note, ACAUT said the association’s claim that by suddenly implementing DBT, the very purpose of the noble programme (MGNREGA) would be defeated, was utter nonsense.
It said that the people of Nagaland were all too familiar with the nefarious intention of the association in objecting to the DBT. ACAUT laughed off at arguments put by NSVDBA that the present system of implementing MNREGA programme by state VDBs were much better than many other states.
“It is true in the sense that the system works much better for the corrupt Rural Development department and the VDBs since there’s much to loot under the present system of unaccountability,” ACUAT alleged.
On the claim that by introducing DBT, the poor rural job holders would be victimized, ACAUT rather pointed out that the only victims of DBT would be the RD officials and VDBs. “The lavish life styles of BDOs and VDB secretaries are testament for all Nagas to see,” it added. ACAUT said that the reaction of NSVDBA was most shameful and had only exposed their sinister design. “NSVDBA asking other NGOs and organizations not to meddle in the affairs of the VDBs has only unmasked their garb of pretending to be working for the welfare of the people,” ACUAT said.
Therefore, ACAUT has requested the state government not to fall for such insidious ploy but to do the right thing for the poor and helpless rural people, by facilitating job card holders to easily open their bank accounts linked with aadhaar. ACAUT said people would wait and watch whether the state government would sway to the whims and fancies of a few vested individuals working under the garb of association or work in favour of the people. It would also be a test for the T.R. Zeliang government’s rhetoric of working for the good of the people, ACAUT added.
Meanwhile, ACAUT has asked the NSVDBA to explain how the amount of Rs. 1500 crore plus released for MNREGA 2016-17 was utilized since the Finance department was unable to explain the suspected double withdrawals.