MGNREGS: RS4.79L
SHIFTED TO FAKE ACCOUNTS IN B’NGIR
Monday, 09 February 2015 | PNS | BALANGIR | in Bhubaneswar
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Even though the Government thought it to be easier and more
transparent, the introduction of online system for transfer of MGNREGS wage to
workers’ bank account in Balangir district looks to be a futile effort with
about Rs 4.79 lakh have allegedly been transferred to unknown and fake
accounts.
Acting on an FIR, the Balangir Town police have started
investigation by detaining two persons. The money fraudulently transferred
through DSC (digital signature certificate) includes Rs 1,51,855 of the Forest
Department and Rs 3,27,072 belonging to the Horticulture Department. The
transfers have been made at the SBI, Patnagarh branch.
Notably, the Government has introduced the Electronic Fund
Management System (EFMS) through which the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural
Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) fund will be kept in the central account
of the State Government. The DSCs are issued in the name of two officials,
namely account officer and drawing and disbursal officer, for transfer of any
kind of expenditure relating to MGNREGS.
Hence, DSCs of the two officials are required for money
transfer. “In MGNREGA website, we found names of some unknown persons against
whom payment was released in last October. We immediately reported the matter
to the Project Director, District Rural Development Agency (DRDA), Balangir who
inquired into the matter. All these transactions have been made at the SBI,
Patnagarh branch,” said Deputy Director of Horticulture, Balangir, Ranjan Das
Mahapatra,
A few months ago in Belpada block, Rs 3 lakh of MGNREGS fund was
found to be misappropriated. An inquiry was done and the Computer Programmer
(CP) was disengaged from job after being found guilty. “Two persons
have been detained in this connection and we are inquiring into the case,” said
ASP Jugal Kishore to our correspondent.
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