Budgam (Khansahib) Dec 25: The Rural Development Department at Khansahib block of this Central Kashmir district is allegedly flouting the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) guidelines with impunity by disbursing the wages of workers in cash.
Under NREGA, which is under implementation in the Jammu and Kashmir from the last many years, the workers wages have to be paid through banks by ensuring that money gets transferred directly into the bank account of the concerned person.
“However, the Rural Development Department in Khansahib is making payment by cash,” the labourers alleged.
Abdul Razzaq Lone son of Muhammad Sultan Lone of Kachwari (A) Halqa of Khansahib block worked on a NREGA project in his village for ten days and was paid only for five days by the concerned person and that too by cash, the labourers alleged.
Lone is a job card holder and is supposed to get the payment through bank. “The concerned person assured him of paying the rest of the amount, but till date he has not been paid anything,” the labourers added.
Similarly, Bashir Ahmad Sheikh son of Muhammad Sheikh from Kachwari (B) too has been paid through cash and another worker Muma Khan son of Sona Khan from Kachwari (C) worked for one and a half month, but got paid only for 22 days and that too through cash.
“This illegal practice is being done in other villages of the Khansahib block and the government officials have failed to take any substantial action against the persons indulging in the malpractice,” Fayaz Ahmad of Raithan village in Khansahib told Greater Kashmir.
When contacted Assistant Commissioner Development Budgam (ACD), Qazi Sarwar assured of investigating the matter and said he would take necessary action against the involved officials and the concerned persons.
Compiled by RM Bhat

Lastupdate on : Sun, 25 Dec 2011 21:30:00 Mecca time
Lastupdate on : Sun, 25 Dec 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Mon, 26 Dec 2011 00:00:00 IST