In a rather astonishing incident in Gujarat’s Chhotaudepur district, four students were given job-cards, and bank accounts were opened in their names under MGNREGA, Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act.
As soon as the district administration got to know about this, Gram Rozar Sevak was dismissed by the District Development Officer. The DDO also issued notice to the village sarpanch, and the village’s executive wing head Talati, of Kukarda village.
Ganga Singh,District Development Officer revealed that it was GRS Lalji Dungarbhil who had issued four job cards in the names of school children. He has now been dismissed from service after a departmental inquiry was conducted.
Furthermore, a notice has been sent to the village Sarpanch and Talati, both. They are expected to provide a proper explanation and if they fail to do so, action will be taken against them.
Husband of the village’s sarpanch Gaunaben Ambalal Dungarbhil, Ambalal defended his wife. He says it is not her fault as she is illiterate, and was asked to sign the employment list made by GRS Lalji without verification. It was Lalji who failed to show the job cards with photos, despite Gaunaben’s demand to see the same, while signing documents.
He further said that he learned from other villages regarding the three job cards which were issued in the name of school-going children – A boy studying in class 10, and two girls who were studying in class 9. Their accounts were opened with Bank of Baroda’s Tanakhla village branch. In maximum, they were paid for a 25-26 days job.
It is alleged that the children’s parents were also involved in the whole escapade. Lalji had even purchased school stationery for the students after withdrawing the money.
