Dimapur, November 29 (MExN): A citizen of Tuensang Town has expressed discontentment over the response from the District Rural Development Agency (DRDA) to the RTI he had filed. In a complain note addressed to the Deputy Commissioner of Tuensang issued by one S. Imlongnukshi Chang of St John Sector B stated that he had applied RTI on July 23 and October 4 to the office of the District Rural Development Agency (DRDA) in regard to MNREGA. stated that the RTI was filed seeking information about deduction of money mentioning it as “VIP” or “MLA” share from MNREGA against the villages under 51 A/C Noksen.
However, the replies he had received on August 2 and October 22 both signed by PO (NERGA) T Aliba Imchen was “shocking”. The officer in charge responded that no such deduction was made from MNREGA. “But it is fact and known to all that between 2008 to till date a total wages of 19 (nineteen) days has been deducted from villages under 51 A/C Noksen mentioning it as “VIP” or “MLA” share,” he added.
He has requested the Governor of Nagaland to intervene and save the poor public and also requested the department in concern to declare the names of the VIPs involved in deducting the centrally sponsored scheme for public.
Also in another complain letter addressed to the DC Tuensang issued by the same person sated that he had applied RTI to the office of the urban Development Officer Tuensang seeking information about the works allotted under Urban Infrastructure Development Scheme and Town protection Scheme of 2009-2010 and 2011-12 works which are completed and certified by the department along with photos of completed works.
However, interestingly he received another “shocking” reply on October 19.
The officer incharge – Assistant Urban Development Officer Tuensang Pangzangkokba replied to the RTI: “In response to your RTI application, I am to inform you that some of the work is ongoing moreover I have no camera to take the photo. Therefore I will arrange the necessity and comply with your RTI application at the earliest possible time.” In this regard, Chang stated: “in spite of funds much released earlier and enough time has been given to work allotees. It is also needed to inform that such a big department does not even have camera to take photos as mentioned in their replies moreover the present UDO Shri Pangzungkokba is taking the general public for a ride since his designation sometimes as UDO and sometimes as Assistant UDO.”
Therefore, he has appealed the administration to constitute an inquiry committee to check the functioning of Urban Development Office in Tuensang. “…Such insincerity is also a factor for backwardness and un-Development of Eastern Nagaland.”
Also, in a separate note issued by the president of Pfutsero & Chizami VDB, Association Tsolhi Wetsah has demanded clarification in regard to ‘misusing of 90% MGNERGA’ by the State Government and the R.D Department in particular, published:27/11/2012/NPN. “After receiving so many complaints from different corners of the state, the NSVDBA carried out an investigation and to their amazement; all complaints received were proved to be correct. As such, I on behalf of Pfutsero & Chizami VDB Association extend my full support to the NSVDBA’s demand for clarification and satisfactory answer from the concerned RD department.”
The note stated that MGNREGA is centrally sponsored scheme on a cost sharing basis between the Central Govt and the State, under this act August 25, 2005, every job card holders is entitled Rs. 100/- per day for 100 days in a year; it means each MGNREGA job card holder is entitled to earn up to Rs. 10,000/- in a year if he/she is willing to work.
He also went on saying that although 10% of the previous labor’s rate/per day had been introduced by the Central Government since years back, the “R.D Department are keeping it dark from the VDBs knowledge”. Instead of increasing 10% of State’s share as per the operational guidelines of the Central Policy, they were draining off 90% of the total amount into their own pockets illegally resulting to stoppage of fund from the Central Government.
