DIMAPUR, JULY 14 (MExN): A group of villagers numbering about seventy from Pangty village of Wokha district arrived at the Deputy Commissioner’s office Wokha as a sign of agitation to the district administration over an MNREGA issue which has been kept pending in the office for a period long enough, stated a press note issued by one Thungdemo Kyong Wokha Nagaland.
Speaking to this correspondent, the leaders of the village said that some people had misused a huge amount of MNREGA money (Rs. 24 Lacs) for which the public of the village officially approached the administration in the month of December 2010 for solving their problem through legal means. The administration verified the case and prepared a detailed Audit report and declared 14 people guilty of the fund misused on the 8th of June 2011. The sources said that right after the findings, details were made public for which the case became more sensitive.
In a meeting on the 23rd of June 2011, at the DC’s office, some of the guilty/accused (as notified by the District Administration), in their resentment decided not to submit statement for which the case could not be settled. But as the case dragged on for a long period of time Pangtians gave an ultimatum to the district administration that if the case is not settled before the 12th of July 2011 they would be compelled to start an agitation on the 13th of July through peaceful means and to which the villagers showed up.
“More than forty (40) persons who had worked in this particular scheme had died even before getting the money for which they worked. The dead cannot come back to life and take the money” said an agitated elder. “Is the Government just for the 14 persons (guilty) or for the seven to eight thousand people”? said some of the elders. Why is justice delayed for such a long time? “To settle any case the government can never please both the parties” lamented another.
In a response to the agitating villagers the administration replied that a final summon on the 19th of July 2011 has been notified to the 14 accused for which any judgment has not been pronounced yet, as even the Law permits time to the accused to defend themselves. If it has been so, “Why didn’t the Administration even care to communicate to us when we had submitted an ultimatum, the villagers would have not taken the trouble to take this drastic step? As a matter of fact if had been serious enough he could have entrusted one of his officers to convey to us the matter” Said the villagers.
Finally the villagers decided to call off the agitation for the time being on the assurance given to them by the DC in written that the final summon is on the 19th and that the case by all means would be disposed and final judgment given within the 31st of July 2011. Accepting the DC’s assurance the villagers submitted a representation to the District Administration that if the case is not disposed within the stipulated time, than the administration would be responsible for any matter that would happen within or out of the village as the general public of Pangty would resort to further agitation.
Copies of the representation were also given to the Chief Secretary Govt. of Nagaland, Home Commissioner Govt. of Nagaland, Deputy Speaker Nagaland Legislative Assembly, Additional Deputy Commissioner & Convener Audit review committee, Wokha Nagaland and Superintendent of Police Wokha Nagaland.
Speaking to this correspondent, the leaders of the village said that some people had misused a huge amount of MNREGA money (Rs. 24 Lacs) for which the public of the village officially approached the administration in the month of December 2010 for solving their problem through legal means. The administration verified the case and prepared a detailed Audit report and declared 14 people guilty of the fund misused on the 8th of June 2011. The sources said that right after the findings, details were made public for which the case became more sensitive.
In a meeting on the 23rd of June 2011, at the DC’s office, some of the guilty/accused (as notified by the District Administration), in their resentment decided not to submit statement for which the case could not be settled. But as the case dragged on for a long period of time Pangtians gave an ultimatum to the district administration that if the case is not settled before the 12th of July 2011 they would be compelled to start an agitation on the 13th of July through peaceful means and to which the villagers showed up.
“More than forty (40) persons who had worked in this particular scheme had died even before getting the money for which they worked. The dead cannot come back to life and take the money” said an agitated elder. “Is the Government just for the 14 persons (guilty) or for the seven to eight thousand people”? said some of the elders. Why is justice delayed for such a long time? “To settle any case the government can never please both the parties” lamented another.
In a response to the agitating villagers the administration replied that a final summon on the 19th of July 2011 has been notified to the 14 accused for which any judgment has not been pronounced yet, as even the Law permits time to the accused to defend themselves. If it has been so, “Why didn’t the Administration even care to communicate to us when we had submitted an ultimatum, the villagers would have not taken the trouble to take this drastic step? As a matter of fact if had been serious enough he could have entrusted one of his officers to convey to us the matter” Said the villagers.
Finally the villagers decided to call off the agitation for the time being on the assurance given to them by the DC in written that the final summon is on the 19th and that the case by all means would be disposed and final judgment given within the 31st of July 2011. Accepting the DC’s assurance the villagers submitted a representation to the District Administration that if the case is not disposed within the stipulated time, than the administration would be responsible for any matter that would happen within or out of the village as the general public of Pangty would resort to further agitation.
Copies of the representation were also given to the Chief Secretary Govt. of Nagaland, Home Commissioner Govt. of Nagaland, Deputy Speaker Nagaland Legislative Assembly, Additional Deputy Commissioner & Convener Audit review committee, Wokha Nagaland and Superintendent of Police Wokha Nagaland.
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