Early Times Report
Jammu, June 11: Despite assuring the labourers to pay their wages pending since 2016, Block Development Officer (BDO) Pouni once again cheated them, as after lapse of six weeks, no action has been taken by the officer.
According the labourers, who had been engaged for tile works in Goder Khalsa village of Panchayat Bhamal of Block, Pouni, manipulating attendance detail of labourers engaged for work, local Panch has withdrawn labour in favour of his relatives.
"Atleast four persons were engaged for tile works in 2016 under MGNREGA, but denied their wages post completion of work by the concerned BDO", they said and added that a local Panch, who happened to be close associate of local MLA has reportedly withdrawn entire payment using his connection.
They said that tile work from main road to Middle School Goder Khalsa in 2016 executed by Pouni Block, but wages for works has not been paid to genuine workers' yet.
"A local leader, Suresh Kumar, an elected Panch, under the patronage of former Minister and MLA Reasi Ajay Nanda got released payment in favour of his relatives", sources said.
They said that the work Rs 6.35 lakh was done during financial year 2016-17, but manipulating bills for the work, the Panch who claimed to be worker of BJP inserted job card of his relatives as labourer, who according to locals never visited the site during said work", they said and added that the villagers are solely dependent on MGNREGA works.
"Subash Chander, Bishan Dass, Ved Prakash and Permanand are the labourers, who worked there, but unfortunately, the Panch named other job-card holders as beneficiary of the work, and name of actual beneficiaries were missing", they added.
BDO, Pouni, Om Parkash who had already assured this correspondent on 1st May, 2019 that justice would be done with labourers, said, "I forgot the matter, but I will take action." However, according to sources the BDO sought report from field staff, but could not took action due to political pressure.
Meanwhile, ACD Reasi Dr Sunil Kumar when contacted was shocked, after knowing that payment of work completed in 2016 is still pending. "As per record, no payment is pending of year 2016, that too from labour component", he said added that he would look into the matter, and if anything went wrong, would be fixed. |
