E-Pao.net: Imphal: Wednesday, May
11, 2016.
RTI activist
Ayekpam Keshorjit has given his reply to the Secretary and Under Secretary of
Union Ministry of Agriculture on May 8 in response to a letter sent to him by
the Under Secretary on April 26 .
In a letter
sent to Ayekpam Keshorjit regarding the complaints against various officials of
different authorities of the State Government for committing malpractices,
misconduct and corruption, Under Secretary Neelam Sharma requested the RTI
activist to confirm whether the said complaints were made by him and whether he
would be able to provide evidence within 15 days if the matter is investigated.
In his reply,
Keshorjit said that he filed the complaints on April 7, 2016 on the basis of
information received through RTI.
He also said
that he is willing to produce evidence in support of the allegations made in
his complaints before any impartial and independent inquiry body.
It was also
mentioned in his reply that on April 31, 2014 he filed a complaint to the
Governor of Manipur for taking up appropriate action against the erring
officials who were involved in the recruitment of CRTO/ Havildars under Manipur
Police Department on the basis of the fake sport certificate and thereafter the
vigilance had taken up the case but no satisfactory action was taken up by them
till date and as such he filed another application under RTI Act.
He also said
in his reply that the statements made in his complaint are all true to the best
of his knowledge and no part thereof is false and appeal to refer the CAG
report of the respective years and the citizens can bring a good governance in
Manipur in future through it.
He also
requested to take up necessary action in accordance with the principle and
spirit of the Whistle Blower Protection Bill/Act at the earliest.
The complaint
of corruption was filed to Radha Mohan, Union Minister of Agriculture on April
7, 2016 urging him to take necessary action against the public servant of
Agriculture Department, Government of Manipur who were involved in the
misconduct, misuse and misappropriation of crores of public money funded by the
Ministry of Agriculture, Government of India under different schemes and
programmes for the year 2011-12 to 2015-16 .
In his
complaint filed before the Union Ministry, Keshorjit said that the Government
of India has been taking up various welfare schemes for the people of Manipur.
An RTI
application was submitted by Keshorjit to the Central Public Information
Officer/Director of Agriculture Government of India on July 11 last year to
obtain information about the schemes, programmes, activities, works provided by
the Union Agriculture Ministry for the farmers of the State from 2011 till
today.
Another
application was also submitted to the Manipur Information Commission seeking
information including the list of schemes/programmes/works along with
sanctioned orders and UC of the State Agriculture Department.
In his
letter, Keshorjit also mentioned that the State Vigilance Commission has failed
to investigate the matter effectively and the State Government has also failed
to accept the recommendations of the Vigilance and requested to direct any
other body which is impartial and independent to investigate the matter.
On the other
hand, the State Vigilance Commission has taken up a case under Vigilance Case
No 1/SP-V/2016 and sent a letter was sent to RTI activist Ayekpam Keshorjit to
make convenient to appear before the State Vigilance Commission located at DC
office complex, Lamphelpat on May 5 at 11 am along with the copies of the
supportive documents related to his complaint to the Union Ministry of
Agriculture for examination.
The RTI
activist failed to make himself present before the commission due to the bandh
imposed on May 6 .
It may be
mentioned that Keshorjit filed an application before SPIO/Director Agriculture
Department, Govern- ment of Manipur on June 27 last year seeking a list of
schemes, programmes, activities, works indicating the amounts of additional
funds getting from Ministry of Agriculture, Government of India and other
financial institutions along with the copy of sanction orders for the year 2006
till 2014 and a copy of utilization certificate and audited statement of
account of schemes/programme/ activities and works and years.
An another
RTI application was submitted by Keshorjit to the Central Public Information
Officer/Director of Agriculture Government of India on July 11 last year to
obtain information about the schemes, programmes, activities, works provided by
the Union Agriculture Ministry for the farmers of the State from 2011 till
today.
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