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Tag: MGNREGA

  • MGNREGA Wage Hike And Congress' Guarantees: Will It Impact 2024 Lok Sabha Polls? ,

    NEW DELHI: As India braces itself for the crucial 2024 Lok Sabha elections, a significant development in the realm of rural employment has emerged, potentially altering the electoral calculus. The Ministry of Rural Development has been authorized by the Election Commission of India to announce revised wages under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) for the upcoming financial year, which has sparked discussions and debates across the political spectrum.

    The Significance Of MGNREGA

    MGNREGA, a flagship rural employment scheme of the erstwhile UPA regime guaranteeing 100 days of work each year for every rural household, was enacted in 2005. It holds immense significance in India's socio-economic landscape. Aimed at providing livelihood security to rural households by guaranteeing 100 days of wage employment in a financial year, MGNREGA plays a pivotal role in alleviating poverty, boosting rural incomes, and enhancing agricultural productivity. The MGNREGA was initiated with the objective of “enhancing livelihood security in rural areas by providing at least 100 days of guaranteed wage employment in a financial year, to every household whose adult members volunteer to do unskilled manual work”. Another aim of MGNREGA is to create durable assets (such as roads, canals, ponds and wells). Employment is to be provided within 5 km of an applicant's residence, and minimum wages are to be paid. If work is not provided within 15 days of applying, applicants are entitled to an unemployment allowance. Thus, employment under MGNREGA is a legal entitlement.

    Implications Of The Wage Hike

    The authorization to announce revised wages under MGNREGA comes at a critical juncture – the Model Code of Conduct is in force across the country and the Lok Sabha elections are just a few days away. The decision to raise minimum wages to Rs 400 per day, if implemented, holds profound implications for millions of rural households dependent on MGNREGA for sustenance.

    Political Ramifications

    From a political standpoint, the timing of the wage hike announcement is noteworthy. As political parties intensify their election campaigns, issues related to rural development, farmer welfare, and employment generation take center stage. The MGNREGA wage hike could potentially sway voter sentiment in rural constituencies, where agrarian distress and unemployment remain pressing concerns.

    Congress' Guarantees

    In a bid to bolster its electoral prospects and resonate with diverse segments of society, the Congress party has further unveiled a comprehensive set of guarantees targeting farmers, women, workers, unemployed youths, and backward communities.

    What Are Major Congress' Guarantees?

    Farmers: The Congress has promised to overhaul existing agricultural policies, including amending the Goods and Services Tax (GST) regime to exempt agricultural materials, redesigning the PM Fasal Bima Yojana to ensure timely compensation for crop loss, establishing a Standing Farm Loan Waiver Commission, and enacting legislation to grant Minimum Support Price (MSP) legal status.

    Workers: The party has pledged to review labor codes, raise MGNREGA wages, pass a right-to-health law, and introduce an urban employment guarantee scheme.

    Women: Congress aims to empower women through various initiatives, including social security measures and participatory justice programs.

    Unemployed Youths: The party has proposed measures to address youth unemployment through skill development programs and job creation initiatives.

    Backward Communities: Congress has committed to conducting a comprehensive social, economic, and caste census, removing the 50% cap on reservations, and allocating budgetary resources proportionate to the population share of Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST).

    The confluence of the MGNREGA wage hike and Congress' guarantees underscores the pivotal role of socio-economic welfare policies in shaping the electoral discourse. As political parties vie for voter support, issues of rural development, farmer welfare, and inclusive growth take precedence, setting the stage for a fiercely contested electoral battle in 2024.

  • Independence Day pleasure for Jeypore’s each day wager Joyful

    Express News Service

    JEYPORE: Daily wager Akshay Kumar Joyful of Chandili panchayat in Kotpad block has by no means been to the nationwide capital and the chance to go to the place got here within the type of an invite to attend the Independence Day parade on the historic Red Fort.

    Joyful, together with over 100 different labourers labored laborious on the Amrit Sarovar mission, being applied by the Central authorities in Chandili panchayat underneath MGNREGA at a price of Rs 10 lakh. However, Joyful’s identify was chosen from among the many hundreds of staff engaged underneath the mission.

    “I am fortunate to attend the function in New Delhi as a guest from my village. I am a daily wager and had not even dreamt of such an opportunity,” mentioned Joyful whereas thanking the federal government. The each day wager mentioned he’ll attempt to make the very best of the chance.

    “We thank both the state and central governments for the initiative of letting poor people of Koraput district visit New Delhi and witness the grand spectacle,” mentioned Pankaj Patra, a social employee.  Joyful, alongside together with his spouse and youngster left for New Delhi on Friday evening.

    JEYPORE: Daily wager Akshay Kumar Joyful of Chandili panchayat in Kotpad block has by no means been to the nationwide capital and the chance to go to the place got here within the type of an invite to attend the Independence Day parade on the historic Red Fort.

    Joyful, together with over 100 different labourers labored laborious on the Amrit Sarovar mission, being applied by the Central authorities in Chandili panchayat underneath MGNREGA at a price of Rs 10 lakh. However, Joyful’s identify was chosen from among the many hundreds of staff engaged underneath the mission.

    “I am fortunate to attend the function in New Delhi as a guest from my village. I am a daily wager and had not even dreamt of such an opportunity,” mentioned Joyful whereas thanking the federal government. The each day wager mentioned he’ll attempt to make the very best of the chance.googletag.cmd.push(perform() googletag.show(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); );

    “We thank both the state and central governments for the initiative of letting poor people of Koraput district visit New Delhi and witness the grand spectacle,” mentioned Pankaj Patra, a social employee.  Joyful, alongside together with his spouse and youngster left for New Delhi on Friday evening.

  • Over 5 crore MGNREGA job playing cards deleted in 2022-23: Centre

    Rural Development Minister Giriraj Singh mentioned that in 2021-22, MGNREGA job playing cards of 1,49,51,247 employees have been deleted whereas in 2022-23 the quantity was 5,18,91,168.

    NEW DELHI: More than 5 crore job playing cards underneath the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) have been cancelled in 2022-23, 247 per cent greater than the variety of deletions in 2021-22, the Lok Sabha was knowledgeable on Tuesday.

    In a written reply, Rural Development Minister Giriraj Singh mentioned that in 2021-22, MGNREGA job playing cards of 1,49,51,247 employees have been deleted whereas in 2022-23 the quantity was 5,18,91,168.

    West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana have been among the many states which noticed the best variety of deletions.

    In 2021-22, as many as 1,57,309 job playing cards have been deleted in West Bengal, whereas within the following fiscal, the quantity shot up by over 5,000 per cent to 83,36,115.

    In Andhra Pradesh, 6,25,514 job playing cards have been deleted in 2021-22, which elevated by 1,147 per cent in 2022-23, when 78,05,569 job playing cards have been cancelled.

    Similarly, in Telangana, 61,278 job playing cards have been deleted in 2021-22, whereas 17,32,936 playing cards have been deleted in 2022-23, a rise of two,727 per cent.

    Gujarat deleted 1,43,202 employees’ job playing cards in 2021-22 and 4,30,404 in 2022-23, a bounce of over 200 per cent.

    In his reply, Singh mentioned the deletions have been made on account of causes comparable to “fake” job playing cards, duplicate job playing cards, folks not keen to work anymore, household shifted from Gram Panchayat completely, or deaths.

    In reply to a different query, Singh mentioned 2.95 crore folks within the age group of 18-30 years have been registered underneath the scheme as much as the 2020-21 monetary yr which was elevated to three.06 crore as much as monetary yr 2022-23.

    In 2022-23, 57.43 per cent of MGNREGA employees have been ladies.

    The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme is geared toward enhancing livelihood safety by offering not less than 100 days of assured wage employment in a monetary yr to each family whose grownup members volunteer to do unskilled guide work.

  • ‘PM conducting ‘Mann ki Baat’ one hundredth episode whereas depriving Bengal of MGNREGA funds’

    By PTI

    KARANDIGHI: Senior TMC chief Abhishek Banerjee on Monday took a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his ‘Mann ki Baat’ radio broadcast and talked about whereas its one hundredth episode was heralded with good fanfare, the poor numerous Bengal have been deprived of Central funds beneath the 100-day MGNREGA scheme.

    In the one hundredth episode of ‘Mann ki Baat’, Modi on Sunday talked about the printed crammed the “emptiness” he felt after coming to Delhi in 2014 and described it as an expression of the feelings of crores of Indians which has ensured he is in no way cut-off from people.

    “On the one hand, the prime minister is busy conducting the one hundredth episode of the Mann ki Baat programme, and the Centre, out of vendetta, has stopped the funds on account of Bengal.

    “They are depriving the poor people of West Bengal by denying MGNREGA funds to Bengal. It (BJP) is trying to punish the state’s people for their defeat in the last assembly poll in 2021. It is yet to accept the defeat,” he talked about whereas addressing a rally in Uttar Dinajpur district.

    Banerjee, the TMC nationwide frequent secretary, whereas addressing a rally as part of the ‘Trinamool-eh Nabajowar’ (new wave in Trinamool) mass outreach advertising and marketing marketing campaign, criticised the BJP MPs from West Bengal for being get collectively to the conspiracy in withholding the dues of the state.

    “People are failing to get roti and bhaat (rice) while the PM is conducting the Mann ki Baat programme. West Bengal is the only state where funds have been stopped. Lakhs of poor people across the state are affected due to non-payment of dues by the Centre. The MPs and MLAs of BJP from the state are also part of this conspiracy to withhold funds,” he talked about.

    Banerjee’s remark drew sharp reactions from the BJP, which dubbed the allegations as baseless.

    “The BJP has no role in stopping funds. The TMC has a habit of levelling baseless allegations. The people of the state disagree with such canards spread by the TMC,” BJP state spokesperson Samik Bhattacharya talked about.

    KARANDIGHI: Senior TMC chief Abhishek Banerjee on Monday took a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his ‘Mann ki Baat’ radio broadcast and talked about whereas its one hundredth episode was heralded with good fanfare, the poor numerous Bengal have been deprived of Central funds beneath the 100-day MGNREGA scheme.

    In the one hundredth episode of ‘Mann ki Baat’, Modi on Sunday talked about the printed crammed the “emptiness” he felt after coming to Delhi in 2014 and described it as an expression of the feelings of crores of Indians which has ensured he is in no way cut-off from people.

    “On the one hand, the prime minister is busy conducting the one hundredth episode of the Mann ki Baat programme, and the Centre, out of vendetta, has stopped the funds on account of Bengal.googletag.cmd.push(carry out() googletag.present(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); );

    “They are depriving the poor people of West Bengal by denying MGNREGA funds to Bengal. It (BJP) is trying to punish the state’s people for their defeat in the last assembly poll in 2021. It is yet to accept the defeat,” he talked about whereas addressing a rally in Uttar Dinajpur district.

    Banerjee, the TMC nationwide frequent secretary, whereas addressing a rally as part of the ‘Trinamool-eh Nabajowar’ (new wave in Trinamool) mass outreach advertising and marketing marketing campaign, criticised the BJP MPs from West Bengal for being get collectively to the conspiracy in withholding the dues of the state.

    “People are failing to get roti and bhaat (rice) while the PM is conducting the Mann ki Baat programme. West Bengal is the only state where funds have been stopped. Lakhs of poor people across the state are affected due to non-payment of dues by the Centre. The MPs and MLAs of BJP from the state are also part of this conspiracy to withhold funds,” he talked about.

    Banerjee’s remark drew sharp reactions from the BJP, which dubbed the allegations as baseless.

    “The BJP has no role in stopping funds. The TMC has a habit of levelling baseless allegations. The people of the state disagree with such canards spread by the TMC,” BJP state spokesperson Samik Bhattacharya talked about.

  • Supreme Court grants interim bail to suspended Jharkhand IAS officer in cash laundering case

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Friday granted interim bail for a interval of two months to suspended Jharkhand cadre IAS officer Pooja Singhal in a cash laundering case to allow her to take care of her ailing daughter.

    The order was handed by a bench headed by Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul whereas listening to Singhal’s enchantment in opposition to the Jharkhand High Court order dismissing her bail plea in relation to the Enforcement Directorate’s probe arising from alleged corruption within the MGNREGA scheme.

    “We are inclined to grant interim bail to the petitioner for the purposes of attending to her daughter for a period of two months from the date of release,” stated the bench additionally comprising Justice Manoj Misra.

    The court docket directed Singhal, represented by senior advocate Sidharth Luthra, to not affect the witnesses, as alleged by the company, and never go to Jharkhand apart from attending court docket hearings.

    The counsel for the company argued through the listening to that Singhal’s daughter was being “medically managed” and her husband, the woman’s stepfather was there to take care of her and there have been “serious apprehensions” with respect to the accused influencing witnesses if launched.

    The prime court docket had earlier granted interim bail for a sure interval to the official within the matter in January whereas asking the ED to reply to her bail plea.

    Singhal has been in custody since May 11, 2022 after raids have been carried out at properties linked to her.

    The ED has accused Singhal, a former state mines division secretary, of cash laundering and stated its crew seized greater than Rs 36 crore money linked to alleged unlawful mining as a part of two separate cash laundering investigations.

    Earlier, the highest court docket sought the probe company’s response on Singhal’s interim bail plea on the bottom of the sick well being of her daughter.

    Apart from the 2000-batch IAS officer, her businessman husband, a chartered accountant related to the couple, and others have been additionally raided by the ED as a part of the cash laundering probe.

    Singhal was suspended by the state authorities following her arrest.

    Suman Kumar, a chartered accountant linked to Singhal and her husband, was additionally arrested by the company and money totalling Rs 19.76 crore was seized from him.

    NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Friday granted interim bail for a interval of two months to suspended Jharkhand cadre IAS officer Pooja Singhal in a cash laundering case to allow her to take care of her ailing daughter.

    The order was handed by a bench headed by Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul whereas listening to Singhal’s enchantment in opposition to the Jharkhand High Court order dismissing her bail plea in relation to the Enforcement Directorate’s probe arising from alleged corruption within the MGNREGA scheme.

    “We are inclined to grant interim bail to the petitioner for the purposes of attending to her daughter for a period of two months from the date of release,” stated the bench additionally comprising Justice Manoj Misra.

    The court docket directed Singhal, represented by senior advocate Sidharth Luthra, to not affect the witnesses, as alleged by the company, and never go to Jharkhand apart from attending court docket hearings.

    The counsel for the company argued through the listening to that Singhal’s daughter was being “medically managed” and her husband, the woman’s stepfather was there to take care of her and there have been “serious apprehensions” with respect to the accused influencing witnesses if launched.

    The prime court docket had earlier granted interim bail for a sure interval to the official within the matter in January whereas asking the ED to reply to her bail plea.

    Singhal has been in custody since May 11, 2022 after raids have been carried out at properties linked to her.

    The ED has accused Singhal, a former state mines division secretary, of cash laundering and stated its crew seized greater than Rs 36 crore money linked to alleged unlawful mining as a part of two separate cash laundering investigations.

    Earlier, the highest court docket sought the probe company’s response on Singhal’s interim bail plea on the bottom of the sick well being of her daughter.

    Apart from the 2000-batch IAS officer, her businessman husband, a chartered accountant related to the couple, and others have been additionally raided by the ED as a part of the cash laundering probe.

    Singhal was suspended by the state authorities following her arrest.

    Suman Kumar, a chartered accountant linked to Singhal and her husband, was additionally arrested by the company and money totalling Rs 19.76 crore was seized from him.

  • Kerala broadcasts compensation if delay in crediting MGNREGA wages

    Thiruvananthapuram, Nov 11: In a transfer which is predicted to deliver cheer to many, Local Self Government Minister M.B.Rajesh on Friday introduced {that a} compensation will probably be made if there’s delay in crediting the wages given to MGNREGA employees.

    The compensation will probably be taken from the State Employment Guarantee Fund and later it is going to be collected from the erring officers, if it is discovered that the delay was brought about because of their inefficiency.

    The Minister knowledgeable that wages needs to be credited inside 15 days after the work is completed and if that doesn’t occur, then from the sixteenth day, a compensation of 0.05 per cent will probably be credited until the quantity is cleared.

    Rajesh identified that inside two days after one work is accomplished by the employees the knowledge needs to be put into the administration data system and inside 5 working days all of the verification needs to be accomplished.

    Finally, after two days, preparations needs to be made to switch the cash to the employee.

    The district programme coordinator has been given the duty of making certain that issues fall in place and funds are made on time.

    Kerala broadcasts compensation if delay in crediting MGNREGA wages IANS 12 November 2022 Post Your Comments

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  • Ground actuality: 45 lakh 1st-time voters might spoil Didi’s get together in rural polls

    By Express News Service

    WITH funding below the Centre’s MGNREGA venture being paused in West Bengal, the 2023 panchayat elections are going to be a important check for the ruling Trinamool Congress. As many as 45 lakh new voters are more likely to be included within the electoral roll forward of the threetier ballot train within the state.

    The variety of new voters is rather less than 10% of the state’s citizens. TMC sources admit that this rise is a trigger of fear, as joblessness will likely be an enormous challenge within the rural polls.

    According to sources within the state election fee, the variety of voters within the panchayat polls is more likely to be round 5.53 crore, as in contrast to five.08 crore voters in 2018.

    “The number of new voters may rise further if the new list, which is set to be published on January 5, is adopted for the panchayat polls which are scheduled to be held in February,” an official of the fee stated. However, the rise in variety of voters is not going to enhance the variety of gram panchayats, panchayat samitis or zilla parshads.

    The quantity of seats will likely be elevated within the present rural our bodies to accommodate the brand new voters. “The release of funds under MGNREGA, which provides jobs in rural Bengal, has been stopped since December because of alleged irregularities in expenditure of the central fund. The Opposition never
    misses a chance to target the TMC over unemployment. The panchayat polls will be a challenge for us as we don’t know what will be the new voters’ allegiance,” a TMC chief stated.

    The new voters are those that attained 18 years of age within the previous three-four years. Many of them have completed research and are looking for jobs

    WITH funding below the Centre’s MGNREGA venture being paused in West Bengal, the 2023 panchayat elections are going to be a important check for the ruling Trinamool Congress. As many as 45 lakh new voters are more likely to be included within the electoral roll forward of the threetier ballot train within the state.

    The variety of new voters is rather less than 10% of the state’s citizens. TMC sources admit that this rise is a trigger of fear, as joblessness will likely be an enormous challenge within the rural polls.

    According to sources within the state election fee, the variety of voters within the panchayat polls is more likely to be round 5.53 crore, as in contrast to five.08 crore voters in 2018.

    “The number of new voters may rise further if the new list, which is set to be published on January 5, is adopted for the panchayat polls which are scheduled to be held in February,” an official of the fee stated. However, the rise in variety of voters is not going to enhance the variety of gram panchayats, panchayat samitis or zilla parshads.

    The quantity of seats will likely be elevated within the present rural our bodies to accommodate the brand new voters. “The launch of funds below MGNREGA, which gives jobs in rural Bengal, has been stopped since December due to alleged irregularities in expenditure of the central fund. The Opposition by no means
    misses an opportunity to focus on the TMC over unemployment. The panchayat polls will likely be a problem for us as we don’t know what would be the new voters’ allegiance,” a TMC chief stated.

    The new voters are those that attained 18 years of age within the previous three-four years. Many of them have completed research and are looking for jobs

  • Jharkhand IAS officer Pooja Singhal despatched to judicial custody until June 8 in cash laundering case 

    By PTI

    RANCHI: A particular PMLA courtroom on Wednesday despatched Pooja Singhal, the suspended IAS officer from Jharkhand, to judicial custody until June 8 in reference to a cash laundering case linked to alleged embezzlement of MGNREGA funds, stated a lawyer of the Enforcement Directorate which is investigating it.

    The bureaucrat was within the ED custody for 14 days.

    After being produced earlier than the particular PMLA courtroom of Prbhat Kumar Sharma by the ED, Singhal was despatched to Birsa Munda Central Jail at Hotwar in Ranchi.

    “Singhal on completion of 14 days in ED custody was produced today before the special PMLA court and was remanded to judicial custody till June 8 as per court orders. She was sent to Hotwar Jail,” particular prosecutor of the ED, BMP Singh, advised PTI.

    Singhal will probably be produced earlier than the courtroom of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) on June 8 through video conferencing.

    The ED requested the courtroom to grant permission to its sleuths to interrogate her in jail at any time when required.

    “I argued that it is a larger conspiracy and we have to interrogate her again. There is a legal provision that we (ED) cannot get her in ED custody for more than 14 days. So we submitted a prayer to the court to order the jail superintendent that whenever required we can question her. The court asked us to file a separate petition when such requirement arises,” Singh stated.

    On the request of Singhal’s counsel for her medical check-up, the courtroom stated this may be carried out by a jail physician, Singh claimed.

    “We will seek the court’s permission to interrogate her in jail as it seems that there is a larger conspiracy. Examination of the digital devices of the officer is being conducted. The investigation is in a crucial stage with the emergence of new evidence in the case,” the ED counsel stated.

    Singhal’s chartered accountant Suman Kumar was earlier despatched to judicial custody by the courtroom of PMLA in reference to the cash laundering case.

    Kumar was additionally within the custody of the Enforcement Directorate for 13 days.

    The 44-year-old IAS officer was suspended by the Jharkhand authorities on May 12 as a part of the process undertaken, in case of a authorities servant being arrested in a prison case, inside 24 hours of the receipt of data.

    Singhal, who served because the state mining division secretary, was arrested on yesterday by the ED.

    The company had produced her earlier than the particular PMLA courtroom which remanded her within the ED custody for 5 days from May 12, and later prolonged twice until Wednesday.

    Based on the “incriminating materials” seized throughout searches, a number of suspected individuals, together with district mining officers, have been referred to as for questioning.

    Earlier, the company had knowledgeable the courtroom that the digital gadgets of each Singhal and her CA, which had been seized, had been despatched to the Central Forensic Science Laboratory.

    ED can also be analyzing all particulars associated to Pulse Hospital, allegedly owned by the bureaucrat and her household, the development of the ability, buy of kit as it’s suspected that the medical facility was used to “launder” cash.

    She was arrested within the cash laundering case linked to alleged embezzlement of MGNREGA funds and another suspicious monetary transactions after the ED raided her premises on May 6 together with that of her businessman husband Abhishek Jha, the chartered accountant and others.

    The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act 2005 (MGNREGA) is aimed toward enhancing the livelihood safety of households in rural areas of the nation by offering a minimum of 100 days of assured wage employment in a monetary 12 months.

    Suman Kumar was arrested following the seizure of greater than Rs 17.79 crore in money allegedly from his residential and workplace premises.

  • Jharkhand authorities suspends mining secretary Pooja Singhal publish her arrest

    By Express News Service

    RANCHI: A day after Enforcement Directorate arrested mining secretary Pooja Singhal; Jharkhand Government suspended her on Thursday from rapid impact. The ED, after an interrogation for over 15 hours, arrested Singhal in cash laundering case linked to alleged embezzlement of MGNREGA funds and different costs.

    Meanwhile, after being taken in remand on Thursday, she was once more taken to zonal ED headquarter in Ranchi for interrogation.

    The 2000-batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer was taken into ED custody underneath the related sections of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). Sources within the State Government additionally knowledgeable that the method of her suspension has already been began and a choice could also be taken on this regard throughout the subsequent few hours.

    Singhal was arrested on second day of the questioning being achieved by the ED officers. She was formally arrested round 4.30 PM on Wednesday, an hour after her husband Abhishek Jha arrived there after being summoned by ED officers.

    According to the knowledge supplied to the courtroom by ED earlier after arresting of CA Suman Kumar, Rs 1.43 crore greater than the recognized sources of her revenue had been recovered from the financial institution accounts of Pooja Singhal whereas she was Deputy Commissioner in Khunti, Palamu and Chatra. 

    The ED additionally claimed that Singhal bought as many as 13 insurance coverage insurance policies by paying a premium of Rs 80.81 lakh and closed them earlier than completion of their tenure and received Rs 84.64 lakh towards it.

    The ED additionally knowledgeable that Singhal transferred Rs 16.57 lakh to the three financial institution accounts associated to CA Suman Kumar.  The ED is claimed to have gathered adequate main proof to recommend that she is in shut reference to CA Sunman Kumar and had monetary transactions with him.

    Notably, the ED on Friday performed raids at a number of areas, together with that of Pooja Singhal, in reference to a cash laundering case linked to alleged embezzlement of over Rs 18 crore MGNREGA funds in Khunti district throughout 2008-2011. The raids had been performed at a complete of 18 areas together with Bihar, Rajasthan, Haryana, NCR in addition to Ranchi, Khunti and Dhanbad in Jharkhand.

    Singhal, as Chatra Deputy Commissioner, has been accused of paying Rs 6 crore prematurely to the 2 NGOs – Welfare Point and Prerna Niketan for musli farming, which, truly was by no means achieved. In addition to that, whereas being Deputy Commissioner in Palamu, she was charged of transferring 83 acres of forest land to a personal firm for mining, a matter which is expounded to Kathautia Coal Mines.

  • MGNREGA scheme implementation below scanner after work takes place at mistaken website in Odisha

    Express News Service

    BERHAMPUR: Construction below MGNREGA in Ganjam district has come below scanner after work for a beautification and landscaping mission imagined to be sited at Digapahandi block was discovered to be carried out in Chikiti as an alternative.

    Not simply the ‘misplaced’ implementation, allegations of land classification disparities too have come to the fore. According to stories, Rs 50 lakh was reportedly proven to have been spent below the scheme in Bijaylaxminarayanpur panchayat below Digapahandi block for building of mannequin pond, a hilltop park and street on the foothills. 

    However, the RoR of the foothill exhibits the constructions carried out on a land below the Forest division in Chikiti block. While the land measuring 1.947 hectare (ha) as per khata no-264 and plot no-1128 has reportedly been recorded as hill and constructions carried out between 2000 and 2021.

    As per norms, no building ought to happen with out altering the classification of land and forest clearance. But on this case, not one of the two was executed. Contacted, forest ranger Kanhu Charan Patnaik expressed ignorance and stated: “No application was received nor submitted through his office for permission to change the classification of the land.”

    Usually the panchayat workplace submits a proposal for building to the block workplace which sends it to district rural improvement authority (DRDA) for approval. After due verification, the DRDA approves the constructions and publishes the muster roll of individuals to be engaged within the constructions.

    However, not one of the officers involved took be aware of the truth that the land chosen for building comes below a distinct tehsil. The then assistant engineer of Digapahandi block Gangadhar Lenka who has now been transferred to Chikiti block was supervising the initiatives.

    He admitted that the development was taken up in Chikiti tehsil. “But the muster roll was prepared after the approval of projects by DRDA,” he stated. Surprisingly the current AE of Digapahandi block Susant Patnaik maintained the constructions had been made below authorities scheme so there may be nothing mistaken if the blocks get modified.

    Former sarpanch of Chandapur panchayat in Chikiti block Manoj Kumar Sahu stated a Hanuman temple was supposed to come back up on the hilly land however when different constructions began, the AE was apprised however to no avail. Apart from depriving folks in Digapahandi block to work below MGNREGA, the constructions diminished the world below Chikiti block. 

    Former BDO of Chikiti Phalguni Majhi too feigned ignorance over the development. But Ganjam Collector Vijay Amruta Kulange stated, “It’s a matter of convergence. We will check if there are any discrepancies.”