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| Fraud alleged in appointment of 11 NREGA Ombudsmen | | | Early Times Report
Srinagar, Apr 28: At a time when the government plans to ensure transparency in execution of developmental works under National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme also called NREGA, questions are being raised over the appointment of 11 Ombudsmen across the state. It's alleged that the recruitment process was completely non-transparent and in violation of NREGA guidelines.
Recently, the Rural Development Department appointed 11 Ombudsmen for 22 districts of the state. Each Ombudsman will look after complaints in two districts.
The RTI Movement has demanded that CVs/ work experience of all the appointed Ombudsmen be made public so that people know what is the background of these officers.
As per guidelines provided by Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India, the selection of Ombudsmen shall be made from among persons of eminent standing and impeccable integrity with at least 20 years of experience in public administration, law, academics, social work or management. No person who is a member of a political party shall be considered for appointment as Ombudsman. The persons selected as Ombudsman must be physically active and capable of conducting field tours, inspections and visits to remote rural locations in the districts.
The guidelines further say that the Ombudsman shall be appointed for a tenure of 2 years extendable by one year based on performance appraisal or till the incumbent attains the age of 65 years or whichever is earlier. There shall be no reappointment and performance appraisal shall be made by the Selection Committee headed by Chief Secretary of state. As far as appointment of 11 NREGA Ombudsmen is concerned people are not aware how these appointments were made. It would have been advisable if the RDD would have made their CVs public so that people would know what kind of work they have done in past for public good. Except GR Ghani, retired IAS officer who is Ombudsman for Budgam/Srinagar, nothing is clear about the other 10 Ombudsmen.
In fact Section 4 of J&K RTI Act 2009 impresses upon the Government to make all the details public while making any appointments to various boards and councils. "It would have been advisable that CVs of all the appointees should have been made public along with the order that was issued vide government order No: 89-RD &PR of 2018, dated: 10.04.2018," said Dr Raja Muzaffar Bhat, founder of Jammu & Kashmir RTI Movement.
By virtue of the order No: 89-RD &PR of 2018 11 Ombudsmen were appointed to look after NREGA related complaints in 22 districts of J&K.
Selection Committee: The Chief Secretary will be the chairperson of the selection committee, the representative of Union Ministry of RDD and eminent civil society person nominated by Union Ministry of RDD will be its members. The Secretary of RDD at state level will be the Member/Convenor of the selection committee. The state government may appoint one or more persons, but not more than three persons as the Ombudsmen in one district. The Ombudsman has the powers to receive complaints from NREGA workers and others on any matter related to implementation of this scheme. The Ombudsman will consider such complaints and facilitate their disposal in accordance with law. He or she can ask the NREGA authority, BDOs etc to provide any information or furnish certified copies of any document relating to the subject matter of the complaint which is or is alleged to be in his possession. In the event of failure of such authority to comply with the requisition without any sufficient cause, the Ombudsman may, if he deems fit, draw the inference that the information, if provided or copies if furnished, would be unfavourable to the concerned NREGA authority. He can Issue direction for conducting spot investigation and to lodge FIRs against the erring parties. He can initiate proceedings suomotu in the event of any circumstance arising within his jurisdiction that may cause any grievance. Engage experts for facilitating the disposal of the complaint. Ombudsman can direct for disciplinary and punitive actions as well. The Ombudsman reports his findings to the Chief Secretary of the State and the Secretary, State Nodal Department for appropriate legal action against erring persons.
Sources say that age of these NREGA Ombudsmen has also been enhanced by 3 years from 65 to 68 years. "How can such old people travel in hilly areas like Kupwara, Gurez, Kishtwar, Paddar, Baderwah, Dacchan and other areas? We appeal CM to make these appointments null and void as it violates the NREGA guidelines," said Mohammad Ramzan Khan, Secretary J&K RTI Movement. |
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