SILCHAR, Oct 4: Braving heavy downpours, a huge rally joined by the leaders and workers of All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) Lakhipur committee was taken out which marched down from Fulertal to Lakhipur SDO office with posters and banners, denouncing the policy adopted in respect of job cards under panchayat and rural development schemes. After reaching the SDO office, a memorandum detailing the allegations related to the job cards addressed to Joyram Ramesh, minister of panchayat and rural development, Government of India, was handed over to thecircle officer, Ruthlienthang, in the absence of SDO (civil) Biresh Chandra Nath.
In view of the enormous anomalies and irregularities in the job cards, AIUDF demanded CBI inquiry into it from 2007 in Lakhipur sub division. It was alleged by thevillagers of development blocks of Lakhipur, Binnakandi, Banskandi and Rajabazar that though the Government of India adopted the policy to improve the socio-economic condition of the people by providing thememployment facilities under the panchayat system, the corruption-ridden administrative machinery stood as stumbling block. Thebenefits did not percolated down the poor and needy in economic distress. It was pointed out that 200 districts including Cachar from across the country and the State were brought under the policy in 2006. Accordingly, the rural house holders were enrolled under the job card holders of ENREGA-2008-2009.
It was pointed out that in conformity with the guidelines, the job cards wereissued to the house holders ofthe villages, ensuring them 100 days employment. But, it was noted for long no jobs were being provided and the cards were left unused. People were deprived of employment as guaranteed under the scheme. Since no employment could be ensured, demand was raised to provide unemployed allowance to the job cards holders without jobs.
Another serious allegation listed was that many householders did not get job cards, for which no plausible explanation came forward. Demand was raised for proper investigation and punishment to the guilty persons for indulging in willfull fraud in the distribution of job cards, flouting the standing guidelines and in flagrant violation of the policy.
The memorandum also brought into focus innumerable anomalies in theexecution and implementation of development works under panchayat system. Many schemes remained on papers only. Funds had not been utilized in reality but completion reports against works done submitted. Irregularities galore existed in respect of ENREGA works aswell as other schemes and projects in the development blocks of Lakhipur, Binnakandi, Rajabazar and Banskandi which, the memorandum stressed, should be investigated by theCBI in order to unfathom the level of malpractices and anomalies before the public. The memorandum was signed by Chouba Mia, president, Md Abdul Malik andRatan Kahar, general secretaries of AIUDF Lakhipur. AIUDF state general secretary and MLA of Katigorah, Ataur Rahman Majharbhuiya, also joined the rally, the biggest ever in the sub division, to be brought out by any political party. (SentinelAssam)
CBI inquiry demanded: AIUDF rally cries foul with job cards in Lakhipur sub division
