IMPHAL, Nov 28 NNN: The Manipur State Panchayat Parishad (MSPP) has strongly objected to the move of the state government to omit the pradhans and members of Zilla Parishad from operating the joint-account of MGNREGS, terming it as centralization of power in the hands of the state government and undermining the importance of representatives of the people at grass root level.
According to an order on November 5 by Department of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, the pradhans and members of Zilla Parishad are no longer required in the operation of joint-account of Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS).
This is in stark contrast to the NREGS operational guidelines by the central government which makes the Pradhan and the Secretary of the Gram Panchayat to be joint operators of the NREGS account.
In a press meet this afternoon at Manipur Panchayat Bhawan, Porompat, Thokchom Bhubol Singh, Secretary of Manipur State Panchayat Parishad (MSPP) said that the new order will not be able to avail 100 days of works to the people as the power of the Panchayat Parishad has been diluted.
The pradhans and members of Zilla Parishad being the direct representatives of the people in the grass-root level, they alone can guarantee success and implementation of the scheme, he said.
In this regard, a memorandum has already been submitted to chief minister O Ibobi Singh, said Bhubol Singh adding that they would oppose the government’s move until it relents to their demand and urged the government to maintain the status quo.
Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/panchayat-members-on-mgnregs/
