Times of India; Anindo Dey; Apr 13, 2011,
JAIPUR: In a clear case of political connivance to shield the corrupt, the department of rural development and panchayati raj has ordered a re-inspection of the work done under MGNREGA in Bamanor village under Dhorimanna panchayat samity in Barmer district.
A special audit by the department had earlier revealed anomalies of nearly Rs 10 lakh.
The activists of Suchana Evum Rozgar Ka Abhiyan alleged that the re-inspection has been ordered after being pressurised by some legislators to shield the village sarpanch Ghulam Shah.
In the FIR filed by RTI activist Mangla Ram, Shah has been named as the prime accused.
Ram, a Dalit, was severely beaten on March 3 for seeking information on all public works undertaken in his village since 2001 in his panchayat under the RTI Act.
Following the incident, Mahendra Singh Bhukar, joint director, social audit, department of rural development and panchayati raj had conducted a special social audit in the village and unearthed anomalies. It then issued orders for recovery of the money from those guilty, but under pressure from legislators, the orders were changed.
According to Nikhil Dey of the Abhiyan, "When a delegation from the Abhiyan had met the Barmer collector on April 7, even he was of the opinion that in the case of a re-inspection, sarpanch Ghulam Shah can influence the results."
"Instead, the government should file an FIR against the sarpanch as he has already been caught on the wrong foot by the government. Else the message that goes down is that the government is aiding the corrupt and we would be forced to take up the issue with the Centre," Dey said.
The special audit report had pointed out that the money paid to contractors for the work done under MGNREGA was in excess of the actual billed amount. "Wrong measurements were indicated in the money bills and excess money was paid leading to the misappropriation of about Rs 10 lakh," the audit report stated.
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