Kalimpong Krishak Kalyan Sanghatan RTI on MGNREGA schemes

YOWAN MOTHAY, EOI.  KALIMPONG, NOVEMBER 26, 20121:The Kalimpong Krishak Kalyan Sanghatan (KKKS) has done an RTI, focusing on the 100-day guaranteed employment programme (MGNREGA). 

According to KKKS leaders, widespread corruption and political interference in 100-day employment guarantee programme was destroying the very essence of the scheme. In the RTI, KKKS has demanded the details of NREGA projects in 112 gram panchayats in the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration area. 

After receiving these details, it would be decided how take up the issue with the authorities. As panchayat polls had not been held in the Darjeeling hills, there was widespread corruption in the 100-day employment guarantee scheme in the absence of people's representatives in the local bodies. 

He also complained of political interference in the 100-day employment guarantee programme. 

The implementation of biometric system in 100 days’ employment had, however, checked corruption to some extent. Village parliaments and village assemblies were being held in many gram panchayats at present but farmers were complaining there was no scheme related to agriculture. 

Farmers working in farms, cinchona plantations and tea gardens and those living in forest villages were not being heard. Suppliers had not been changed in the past five to 10 years. The suppliers were choosing the jobs to be executed.