Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC) has demanded setting up of an impartial Inquiry commission, headed by a retired High court judge, within a month’s time to probe into the anomalies in the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) and to ensure proper implementation of the scheme. In order to voice out their concern, NPCC held a brief sit-in dharna outside Raj Bhavan Kohima after which a memorandum was submitted to Nagaland Governor P.B. Acharya.
NPCC members were seen with banner and placards some of which read “we demand distribution of job-card to entitled holders”, “implement MGNREGA in toto”, “hoarding of poor-men’s money is a sin”, “shame on robbing the poor” etc. NPCC president, K. Therie speaking at the rally stated that “Nagaland public is facing drought like situation particularly in the rural villages due to lack of money circulation, where the state budget vanishes within the council of ministers, parliamentary secretaries, MLAs, government employees and few contractors”.
NPCC also alleged that the state government had misused, mismanaged and misinterpreted the Act and rules by refusing to give job cards to the employees, pressuring VDB secretaries and VCCs to sign blank cheques, avoiding to conduct social audit, misinterpreting the meaning of convergence by diverting 50% of the MGNREGA money as VIP discretion and not implementing 100 days employment and wages as guaranteed in the Act.
NPCC said that the district congress committees on February 2 had submitted representations to their respective DCs, demanding 100 days’ wages be realized to each entitled household. However, till date there was response from government, it added.
Reminding that the MGNREGA 2005 was launched by Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and Sonia Gandhi with the objective to boost the economy of the rural populace, by guaranteeing 100 days employment, Therie alleged that the NPF government instead, within a decade, perfected in corrupting the Act and guidelines. NPCC working president P. Ayang Aonok also addressed the gathering, while NPCC vice president Khriedi Thenuo chaired the programme. A copy of the memorandum was also submitted to DC Kohima.
Meanwhile, District Congress Committee (DCC) Peren also organised a dharna programme at Peren town. At the short programme, which was chaired by DCC president Peren Aluibe Iheilung, short speeches were delivered by Athang in-charge Peren district, Iherie Ndang (INC candidate in the last assembly election) and PCC member Dr. Tumda. Before submitting the memorandum to DC Peren, the content was read out to the public.
Earlier, invocation was pronounced by GB Samzuiram Amang Pame.
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