By R Lester Makang
UKHRUL, June 30: Even as issuance of additional job cards under MGNREGA scheme in Ukhrul awaits completion report of the ongoing verification drive, the process is apparently stagnating as the concerned department remained unable to track its progress even after over a year of its launch.
According to Bishikanta, PO MGNREGS Ukhrul division, the drive was launched one year or so back with an aim to rectify alleged anomalies in issuing job cards as there are cases of bogus job cards in villages of the district.
Maintaining that the verification is being conducted by concerned block staff members from village to village, he further informed that issuance of additional job cards for the whole district will be taken up only after completion of the current verification process.
The PO, however, admitted the department’s failure to track the progress of the verification, while stating that so far not a single block team has submitted reports of the same.
“As it is, we cannot work out how much or how many villages have been covered,” he continued maintaining that it will take time since 226 villages will be covered in the process.
Meanwhile, sources informed that labour wages under the scheme have been revised from Rs. 153 to Rs. 175 in the district with effect from the current fiscal year.
Till the month of June 2014, only 5 days of work have been implemented, sources added.
Blaming Manipur government for the delay as well as continued shortfalls in implementation of work days, sources further disclosed that this is due to the State government’s failure to release fund in time.
Currently, there are about 44 thousands job card holders under MGNREGS in the district.