Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (SP)

Mangalore, Dec 8: The Ombudsman, who has found out during inquiry into alleged irregularities in the implementation of National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme, that irregularities had indeed taken place in Marodi village in Perady gram panchayat in Beltangady taluk, has identified the guilty and ordered them to reimburse Rs 70,100.

Secretary of the gram panchayat, clerk, assistant agricultural officer and junior engineer, who have been found guilty, have been ordered to pay additionally a fine of Rs 1,000 each. They have been asked to remit the amounts within 15 days. The irregularities relate to road works, protective walls, a vented dam, and horticultural development scheme. Ombudsman, Sheena Shetty, said that out of the above, Rs 30,000 stands paid already.

During the inquiry, secretary of the panchayat admitted that some works were got done through contractors, as daily wagers could not be found to work for low wages specified in the scheme. Some officials conceded they worked under pressure from people’s representatives, without getting administrative sanctions for some works, he said.

Inquiry was taken up based on allegations of large scale misappropriation under NREGS in the gram panchayat. During scrutiny, it was found that the list of daily wagers maintained by the gram panchayat contained names of even people who have lost their legs in accidents, those who have been paralyzed, anganwadi workers, employees of cooperative banks, and girls who were married off to other places. The name of a person who had died some time back, was also found to be included in the list of beneficiaries.

The executive officer of Beltangady taluk panchayat, who was instructed to conduct investigation, had submitted his report on November 16.