IPAK alleges

IMPHAL, Aug 31 : The Indigenours People's Association of Kangleipak (IPAK), Manipur has claimed irregularities in paying wages to job card holders.
In a statement, IPAK said that many job card holders under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA)  have reached out again to them regarding the irregularities in wage payment.
Many elected members and line workers have been visiting the job card holder and by using Aadhaar Enabled Payment System (AEPS) or bank's withdrawal slips, the amount deposited to the card holders' bank accounts are being withdrawn, alleged IPAK.
Earlier in April 2020, card holders had reached out to IPAK on similar problems and IPAK had done everything to sort out the problems. IPAK had ensured that the funds that had been diverted from the card holders returned to its rightful accounts and those involved in such issues were informed to the concerned authorities, added the statement. The concerned RD and PR Minister has also been working to sort out such discrepancies, added IPAK.
Various fake reasons have been told to the card holders regarding the recollection of wages that have been deposited on their accounts by local elected members including Zilla Parishads, Pradhans, Members and other officials assigned in the scheme, alleged IPAK.
They have even brought local clubs on their side so that they won't interfere with their agenda, added IPAK.
IPAK said such issues are not isolated events and reports are coming in from each and every district of the State, which points at a possible existence of a 'well organised gang' that is operating at various levels of the Government to hoodwink the job card holders.
The Government need to work a way forward to ensure that the wages meant for the job card holders are being paid in full as per the number of days of work they have completed and Vigilance and Anti Corruption Department should also look into the malpractices and misappropriation of funds under MGNREGA, said IPAK.
In the absence of strict and permanent solutions, people always find ways to bypass the various roadblocks in trying to scam the job holders as it has been shown by new reports of such problems being reported this year too despite some of the similar problems being addressed last year, added the statement.