The commission directs the concerned authorities to do needful within a period of one month from the date of receiving of the order
TFM Desk
Manipur Human Rights Commission (MHRC) has intervened over the allegation of wrongfully and illegally withdrawing the public fund/money for development of rural area of Sonapur Gram Panchayat, Jiribam, Manipur and non-payment of remuneration/daily wages to BPL and Job Card Holders under the MGNREGA Schemes.
MHRC Acting Chairperson Khaidem Mani issued an order on Thursday (25th August 2022) recommending the concerned authorities to do needful within a period of one month from the date of receiving of the order.
One Md Sahid Ahmed, 25, S/o Md Rakmad Ali of Lalpani Part-II, PO & PS- Jiribam, District- Jiribam, Manipur had filed a petition against eight respondents for wrongfully and illegally withdrawing the public fund/money for development of rural area of Sonapur Gram Panchayat, Jiribam, Manipur without constructing/performing the IVR’s works, ponds and playground etc., and also for non-payment of remuneration/daily wages of BPL and Job Card Holders under the MGNREGA Schemes since 2018 till 2022 in spite of doing various works/job as told to do so.
He named 1. the State of Manipur, represented by its Commissioner, Rural Development and Panchayati Raj (RD&PR), 2. Jiribam District Deputy Commissioner, 3. Jiribam District BDO/SDO, 4. Asma Begum, W/o, Md. Faiz Ahmed of Mulargao Muslim Village, Jiribam District, 5. Md. Satabuddin, S/o Md. Makmad Ali of Agalpur Muslim, Jiribam District, 6. Md. Abdul Matib, S/o. Late Imtaz Ali of Ahmedabad Muslim Village, Part-1. Jiribam District, 7. Md. Habijuddin, S/o. Late Kalamoshi of Kashimpur Muslim Village. Jiribam District and 8. Nurjahan Begum, W/o. Md. Abdul Roshid of Sonapurt Part-II, Jiribam District as respondents.
The Respondent nos 3 to 8 filed their written statement and the Respondents states that regarding the construction and development works of the concerned wards, 50% of the share is related with the Gram Panchayat, another 25% is the share of the Jilla Parishad and the remaining 25% share is concerned with the local MLA. They also stated that all the works for the construction and development programmes were carried out from the 50% share of the Gram Panchayat together with Ward Members, Pradhans along with the Job Card Holders jointly.
The respondents further stated that the amounts payable for Job Card Holders for 100 days were not released timely by the Government instead it was released only for 40 days to 60 days during the financial year and also states that the Job Card Holders worked for only 6 days in total
They maintained that all the works assigned by allocating 50% share amount of the Gram Panchayat have been completed so far, except the construction works for 10 feet in length within Ward No.10 have not been completed due to water logging in the construction site at present. The same may be completed at the earliest as and when the waters are poured out from the worksite, they added.
Regarding the non-payment of remuneration/daily wages to nine Job Card Holders, the respondents said that it may be considered after proper verification by the Office of the Deputy Commissioner, Jiribam whether they actually discharged their duties timely after making application to the G.R.S.
However, they submitted that those who were not present physically in the work site and those who did not submit applications properly to the G.P.S. are not entitled to claim for daily wages/remuneration. Those whose Job Card Holders have linked their Aadhaar numbers with their Bank accounts, their remuneration/daily wages had been credited in their respective bank account, they added.
After hearing the parties, the MHRC observed that the allegation of the wrongfully and illegally withdrawing the public fund/money for development of rural area of Sonapur Gram Panchayat, Jiribam, Manipur without performing the IVR’s works is to be verified and directed the respondents to complete the remaining works, if any, for which the Bills/public fund had been withdrawn.
On the non-payment of the works done on daily basis by members of BPL Holders and Job Card Holders under the MGNREGA Schemes since 2018 till 2022, the MHRC said their cases shall be considered and necessary payment should be made after proper verification by the office of the Deputy Commissioner, Jiribam and BDO/SDO, Jiribam District.