Dimapur, June 13 (MExN): The Nagaland Transparency, Public Rights Advocacy and Direct Action Organisation (NTPRADAO) termed the June 12 statement of the NSVDBA regarding the alleged ‘financial scam’ as uncalled for and claimed that it was issued with “malicious intent” and “ulterior motive.”
In the statement, the Nagaland State VDB Association (NSVDBA), among others, had termed the NTPRADAO’s allegation of “financial scam” in Rural Development (RD) Department as ‘delusional.’
In response, the NTPRADAO asked rhetorically as to whether the NSVDBA was “duly and legally recognised body, accepted and acknowledged by all the Village Board Chairman's in Nagaland” or whether Association’s recent statement against NTPRADAO was validated by the entire 16 districts VDB Secretary's Associations and its full team of State Office-bearers.
According to the NTPRADAO, it was not the case.
For NTPRADAO, the NSVDBA defence of the RD Department was admission that “they are also partners in the share of the alleged 74 crore magnitude of mis-appropriation.”
Accordingly, it wondered whether the NSVDBA and RD Department made a deal.
The NTPRADAO further claimed that when 80% from the MGNREGA Funds related to guaranteed 100 man-days/Job cards as well as VIP Quotas were allegedly deducted and NSVDBA was nowhere or fought for and assisted the Village Councils/Boards during such events.
The organisation also asserted that the public in general and NTPRADAO are enquiring with the RD Department and not the VDB Secretary's Association and called the NSVDBA defence a “shameful act.”
“Only the RD Department is liable to clarify with concrete proofs and photographic evidences, the NTPRADAO asserted.
It further noted the NSVDB is liable to be made one of the respondent in the event inverstagtion or legal matter related with the issue as it come out openly in support of RD certifying with a clean-chit.
Meanwhile, NTPRADAO maintained that if the NSVDB statement were true, the RD Department must provide concrete answers on various related matters.
Among others, the NTPRADAO stated that if the RD Department had given materials such as cement, rod, sand and wood etc instead of cash initially to the beneficiaries, the latter must “show proof of the material/item receipts received by each beneficiary along with the actual location (constructed house photos) as evidence.”
If the RD has given cash to some of the beneficiaries in order to build the houses, the department must produce proof, it added.
As for the Direct Cash Benefit (DBT) through the PFMS mode, the NTPRADAO demanded that the department must “’furnish Bank Statement of each of the beneficiary along with the actual location (constructed house photos) as evidence.’
The NTPRADAO further issued a 15-day ultimatum to the Nagaland Chief Minister to deal with the issue, adding that if no action is initiated, a “drastic course of action is in the offing” after the expiry of the timeline.
