Seram Neken clarifies on MGNREGS funds

    08-May-2021
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IMPHAL, May 8
The Rs 83.6 crore sanctioned by Department of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj was grant-in-aid of the 2nd instalment of 1st tranche of central assistance towards wage, materials and administrative component for FY 2020-21 for clearance of pending liabilities in respect of 16 districts of Manipur.
Seram Neken, ZP member, Imphal East district said this in a statement issued today and alleged that RD & PR Minister TH Biswajit had wrongly quoted it as wage component of wages only while in fact it is for payment of wages, material and administrative components as per sectioned letter issued by RD & PR on April 21, 2020.
The Minister had also alleged that some ZP and representatives from PRIs were trying to utilize funds meant for wages in some other areas in a news report published on this paper. Seram Neken clarified that elected PRIs have no authority to utilize the funds in any other areas and the RD & PR Department was the sole authority to allocate funds, sanction and release funds as per guidelines.
Seram Neken alleged that the Minister was trying to tarnish the image of elected local representatives with false charges and said the Minister should look after the affairs in his department efficiently before going to the media.
He also added that it was very unfortunate that the Department was not acting uniformly in releasing of MGNREGS funds  as some GP got wage components while some others got material components.