Patiala: Few months after TOI highlighted a MGNREGA wages scam that threw light on dead villagers were shown working and getting wages, the additional deputy commissioner (development) Patiala after thorough investigations had written to director of Punjab rural development and panchayat to suspend the sarpanch of Fatehpur village for his involvement.
Besides, the ADC has also initiated action against Gram Rozgar Sahayak (GRS) and ordered to recover from his salary the total amount of wages paid to dead villagers under MGNREGA.
On January 23 this year, TOI highlighted the case of some dead villagers in Fatehpura village of Patiala district being paid the wages for the construction work despite these beneficiaries having died years ago. Villager Ajaib Nath died in May 2020 but was paid for six days work done in November 2021 whereas Malook Singh was paid for 20 days work years after his death.
“A report was sought from BDPO after the newspaper report, ‘In Patiala, dead villagers get wages denied living’. It was found that two dead villagers (named in TOI report) were paid wages. The error committed by the sarpanch of Fatehpur village had not only tarnished the image of the government but also failed to do his duty intentionally. It is requested to suspend Fatehpur village sarpanch under section 20 of Punjab Panchayati Act 1994,” reads the letter by ADC.
The members of Democratic MGNREGA Front (DMF), however, had raised questions over indicting only village…
Besides, the ADC has also initiated action against Gram Rozgar Sahayak (GRS) and ordered to recover from his salary the total amount of wages paid to dead villagers under MGNREGA.
On January 23 this year, TOI highlighted the case of some dead villagers in Fatehpura village of Patiala district being paid the wages for the construction work despite these beneficiaries having died years ago. Villager Ajaib Nath died in May 2020 but was paid for six days work done in November 2021 whereas Malook Singh was paid for 20 days work years after his death.
“A report was sought from BDPO after the newspaper report, ‘In Patiala, dead villagers get wages denied living’. It was found that two dead villagers (named in TOI report) were paid wages. The error committed by the sarpanch of Fatehpur village had not only tarnished the image of the government but also failed to do his duty intentionally. It is requested to suspend Fatehpur village sarpanch under section 20 of Punjab Panchayati Act 1994,” reads the letter by ADC.
The members of Democratic MGNREGA Front (DMF), however, had raised questions over indicting only village…