People of Poblung-B village in Dambuk Circle of Lower Dibang Valley are leveling allegations against eleven of their Anchal Samiti Members as well as Gram Panchayat Chairpersons of 6-Dambuk Anchal Block of misusing their positions to seek favors under NREGA. The people, en mass, are demanding the government for an enquiry committee to look into the allegations and warned of an outburst of public angst if it is left unattended for long.
In a letter to the Deputy Commissioner, recounting their experiences, the villagers claimed that the Dambuk Block Development Officer refused to divulge the list of persons enrolled for 100 days employment under NREGA when several approached the office on May 26 last. They alleged that the BDO acted on behest of the said panchayat leaders.
The villagers further claimed that the concerned Anchal Chairperson had convened a meeting of PRI leaders in March last as an outcome of which six new beneficiaries belonging to the families of the leaders were included in the list for benefits under the scheme. This, they pointed, was in violation of the NREGA guidelines. New inclusions, villagers added, was made possible by declaring it as Anchal Samiti Members’ and Gram Panchayat Chairperson’s quota.
Meanwhile, emphasizing that the government implement the employment programme for full 100 days as per the guidelines; villagers said that they have been informed by the BDO that the state government has sanctioned funds for only 45 days employment. Another piece of information emanating from the BDO office, which the villagers alleged as disturbing, is that the government will be deducting an amount of Rs 1900000 as royalty against sand gravel from a total sanctioned amount of Rs 4900000 for implementation of the programme in Dambuk Block. Perturbed, the people are seeking clarifications from the concern authorities.