Misappropriation of development funds alleged, Silchar

Special Correspondent

Silchar: The government might change, but not the governance. The days of playing ducks and drakes with development funds seem to have a rerun.

This is what the general people of cluster of villages under Madhura gaon panchayat of Udharbond constituency in Cachar district feel. In a brazen manner, as alleged by the inhabitants of the area, Rs 57 lakh sanctioned under Jawahar Lal Nehru Gramin Krira Prakalpa related to MGNREGS for 2014-2015, was misused. The amount in question was sanctioned for the construction of a playground at Madhura Bazaar with a view to promoting games and sports and to motivate the youths to participate actively in them.

Besides, as enshrined in the basic objectives of Gramin Krira Prakalpa, development of games and sports has become imperative for physical and mental fitness of the young generation. The aims might be high, but those entrusted with the implementation of the scheme, according to public allegations, have something different in mind. In order to ventilate their grievances, they have pin pointedly laid their accusing finger at one identified as Mintu Acharjee, president of the construction committee of Madhura playground as well as other members on it. In their memorandum on the issue to the Deputy Commissioner of Cachar, it has been pointed out that the demand for a playground at Madhura has been long standing.

Without taking cognizance of public demand for maintaining transparency and accountability, the said Mintu Acharjee along with his some henchmen, projecting themselves as sportsperson, started construction work of the playground. Though the work started nearly one year ago, the construction taken up has neither been completed nor any progress made on the ground. Sensing something foul, concerned people approached Pankaj Kumar Dhar, president of Madhura gaon panchayat, and other leaders of the area repeatedly. Their response has been rather intriguing and inexplicable.

This is one example of making a mince matters of development funds. People have cited yet another instance of misuse of funds for construction of sanitary toilets under multi sectoral development programme (MSDP) at Madhura Bazaar and adjacent villages. The allegation is that Mintu Acharjee along with his henchmen has been trying to take away the contract work by force, depriving the beneficiaries of the area and also the people as mandated under the scheme. The allegation goes to say that despite lodging series of complaints with the department concerned, the long arm of Acharjee and his companions has again taken upper hand to rule the roost.

The litany of allegations may be long, but the core message that comes out clearly spells out how development funds even under the zero tolerance government continue. It is this coterie of Acharjee, his trusted followers aided and abetted by Pankaj Kumar Dhar have been grabbing the contracts of government schemes. They have as further alleged have taken up several development schemes for implementation but have gone to work for their own loaves and fishes. This is no doubt a gross violation of the fundamental rights of people and also human considerations. Considering the enormity of the allegations, the mass petitioners demand of the Deputy Commissioner to initiate thorough inquiry into it in the larger interest of the people in general.