Malkangiri: Dummy job cards were made in the names of deceased persons indicating massive irregularities in the implementation of rural job scheme at Padmagiri and Udupa panchayats under Sadar block in this district, a report said.
Locals Ashok Vaidya, Krushna Madkami and Debashis Majumdar alleged that some people who are no more still figure in the muster rolls and wages are being drawn against their names.
A vested interest group comprising unscrupulous officials and political persons are behind this racket.
They alleged that the officials instead of employing needy persons in the area had taken out job cards in the names of deceased people and are depositing their wages in the accounts of their relatives which is later withdrawn by them.
They demanded a high level inquiry into the irregularities and action against the guilty. Reports said Parimal Biswas, a native of MV-102 village in Padmagiri panchayat, passed away in 2007.
However, a job card still exists in his name and in the names of Premadasi Biswas and Rekha Biswas, two of the surviving members in his family.
The wages in the name of Parimal Biswas are processed every month and deposited in the account of Rekha Biswas (job card no-6471).
The three have been shown working under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS). Similarly, another villager Mukund Haldar in the same village died February 17, 2015.
It was found that wages accruing to his job card no6465 have been deposited in his bank account at Utkal Gramya Bank branch at Padmagiri May 25, 2021.
Moreover, water conservation projects are being implemented on shallow land in both the panchayats. Job card holders are required to dig up 1,400 pits measuring 10/3 feet width and 2.5 feet depth.
The officials have prepared bills of 1,400 pits while only 400 pits have been dug up. It is alleged that this work is being implemented by involving non-labourers.
Notably, both the Centre and the state are spending crores of rupees to provide jobs to the rural populace under the MGNREGS through one job card to each family.
However, due to lack of proper utilization of funds, genuine beneficiaries are deprived of jobs forcing them to migrate to other states for work.
Reports said over 30,000 people from the district migrate to neighbouring Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra and Telangana every year due to lack of employment opportunities.
They go with hope of getting jobs, but end up being tortured. The district administration has been making all efforts to provide employment to these people and spending funds for the purpose.
Jobs can be created in plantation work and water and soil conservation projects. However, due to unscrupulous officials, vested interest groups reap the benefits of the job schemes.
When contacted, Malkangiri BDO Ajay Kumar Pradhan said the allegations will be investigated and action will be taken against the officials concerned if charges against them are found true.
PNN
