Rs 170 lakh missing from Mizoram Building Workers’ Welfare Board.

Mizo News: Aizawl: Sunday, 13 July 2014.

Rs. 170 lakh has gone missing from the Mizoram Building and Other Construction Workers’ Welfare Board, said social activist Lalthanzami at a press conference held yesterday.

Speaking to media at a press conference held at Aizawl Pres Club, Lalthanzami accompanied by Lalkhamliana, said since its function from 2011, the total amount being received and collected for the expense of manual workers under MB & OC Board is about Rs. 20 crores. Lately, it came to public knowledge that there was act of extravagance and squandering money under this board as a result of which the expenditure for Rs. 170 lakhs went unnoticed, she said.

Lalthanzami added that according to RTI Report dated 11th July, 2013 a total amount of at least Rs. 2,49,48,090 had been spent for administration under this board so far. However, as appeared from the report of expenditure detail issued by the Board on 6th February, 2014, only Rs. 70 lakhs had been expended and the expenditure for Rs. 170 lakhs has not been mentioned in the report. As there was doubt of embezzlement, FIR had been registered at ACB on 27th May, 2014 to probe the matter, she added.

Instituted in 2009 in accordance with Building and Other Construction Workers’ (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Act, 1996, the Mizoram Building and Other Construction Workers’ Welfare Board came into function from 2011. Under this Board every contractors is asked to deposit at least 1% of his total work cost for welfare cess. Before drawing out contract bill, all contractors have also to take a clearance certificate from the board. The total amount collected till today under this board has accounted to between Rs. 16 and 20 crores. Currently there are 25 staffs working under Mizoram Building and Other Construction Workers’ Welfare Board. According to Lalthanzami, many of the present staffs were recruited through unfair means without advertisement being displayed and without undergoing written test and personal interview.

As per the schemed laid down under Mizoram Building and Other Construction Workers’ Welfare Board, financial assistance is given to the children of manual labourers for their education. While many of the applicants are expecting financial assistance from the board, the monetary assistance fund went to other persons before it was received by the actual applicant, Lalthanzami also alleged adding that investigation is going on the matter.