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| Union Rural Dev Ministry stops funds to Budgam | | Bungling unearthed in NREGA, IAY | | Early Times Report
srinagar, Jan 25: Following large scale allegations of corruption and nepotism in MGNREGA (Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act) and IAY (Indira Awaas Yojana), the two Centrally sponsored flagship schemes in Budgam, the Union Ministry of Rural Development has stopped any further release of funds to the district after the allegations about misappropriations were substantiated, sources said.
An investigation was initiated by the Rural Development Ministry Govt of India few months back though an independent at the behest of National Advisory Council (NAC) which made the Ministry to act. Sources said that last year noted social activist and Magsay awardee Ms Aruna Roy who is also member of National Advisory Council (NAC) visited Kashmir on invitation of local RTI activists where she was apprised of mismanagement and corruption in the National Flagship programmes like MGNREGA, IAY etc. It was after this that Aruna Roy took up this serious matter with Sonia Gandhi who is also Chairperson of the National Advisory Council (NAC).
A team from Ministry of Rural Development lead by Director of Centre for Logical Research and Development Studies (LORDS) Dr Pradosh Sharma visited Kashmir valley in early September last year and investigated the matter after going to Kutabal village in Chadoora block of Budgam district where the local Sarpanch had issued cheques worth more than Rs 13 lakhs to his own family members and had indulged in wrong practices while implementing MGNREGA schemes.
The team had visited other areas of Budgam district and a report has been submitted to the Rural Development Ministry which had recommended stoppage of funds under MG NREGS to Budgam district. In addition to this the team has recommended action against the Sarpanch of Kutabal village in Budgam. The move of the Union Ministry has, however, affected the genuine beneficiaries of the schemes. "If one sarpanch has done something wrong, he should be penalized; but why should the schemes be kept on freeze for entire district?," lamented one local giving vent to his resentment over the sidelining of the district for implementation of Centrally Sponsored Schemes.
While talking to Early Times Fayaz Ahmad Wani, the RTI activist paid his gratitude to Aruna Roy and thanked the Ministry of Rural Development Govt of India. "I want that the Sarpanch should be arrested and removed from the post as soon as possible. According to sources the investigating team has submitted its report before Rural Development Ministry and has mentioned the erring persons including a high profile individual. |
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