THE RELATION OF STARVATION DEATHS AND SUICIDES BY FARMERS IN JHARKHAND WITH NEW ECONOMIC POLICY
In the beginning of 90s New Economic Policies were introduced in the market to improve the overall economic condition. After almost 15 years of introduction of these new economic policies it becomes imperative to ponder over the impact, which these policies had over the agriculture sector in India especially in relation with Jharkhand. Facts and figures depict that the condition of agriculture sector has deteriorated.
Table 1[1]: Growth Rate of Agriculture Production (Cumulative Annual Rate)
FOODGRAIN PRODUCTION
Years
Rice
Wheat
Coarse Food grain
Pulses
Total
Food grain
Oilseeds
Cotton
Sugarcane
Gross Agriculture Production
1980-81 to 1990-91
3.3
4.2
1.2
3.0
3.1
7.0
3.4
4.6
3.0
1990-91 to 1997-98
1.7
2.1
-0.7
-1.3
1.4
3.5
2.2
1.1
1.9
From the figures of table 1, it becomes clear that with the introduction of new economic policies in the 90s the production rate of rice, wheat, pulses, coarse grain, oilseeds even cotton and sugarcane has reduced. We see a heavy reduction in their production.
The new economic policies of 90s are highly responsible for the deplorable state of agriculture sector. To reduce the deficit, subsidies were highly slashed on seeds, manure, fertilizers, irrigation etc. under the structural adjustment programme. In order to provide a favorable base for the prevalent market forces, the interference and the role of government in agriculture sector started diminishing.
Table 2[2]: Share of agriculture sector in annual budget (in percentage)
1991-92
1992-93
1993-94
1994-95
1995-96
1996-97
1997-98
20.4
21.1
20.4
19.6
19.9
19.4
9.9
In spite of the fact that during 90s, private investment has increased, the role of agriculture sector in Gross Capital Formation has declined and this diminishing trend could not be controlled. The main reason behind this phenomenon is that the number of well-equipped farmers, capable of making private investment is almost negligible in comparison to the ill-equipped farmers. Where it becomes important to increase public investment to improve the condition of small and ill equipped farmers, altogether an opposite trend is witnessed; as a result the condition of small farmers is deteriorating day by day. The cases of farmer’s suicides in Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra and Punjab are the result of such destructive policies only. Jharkahnd is not far away from this reality.
CROP FAILURE FORCES FARMER TO COMMIT SUICIDE (1stSeptember 2004)
RATU: When Machindra Mahto, a 35 –year-old farmer in Ttigra Tiratoli vilage of Ratu block in Ranchi, had sown ginger seeding on his land little did he know that these would become the cause of his death after a couple of months
Machindra who committed suicide on Wednesday night by swallowing pesticide had a debt burden of Rs.45,000 on him and had been in a constant state of depression for past few days, brooding on how to repay the loan, according to his father Kittu mahto.
An eerie silence prevailed in the village a day after machhindra had been buried. Machindra’s wife Sheela Devi now wonders how she will feed her two sons and one daughter with the only bread winner of the family now dead.
The dead farmer actually used to be a happy man till he discovered this Monday that the ginger crop had failed. He was so shattered that he took to alcohol and used to be in an inebriated state most of the time, said Kittu adding that on the fateful night he came home drunk at 11 pm and went to sleep without taking diner. It was only when he started shouting for help that the family realized that machindra had taken poison.
The entire Ratu block about 35km from Ranchi is a vegetable belt. Most of the big and small farmers here earn their livelihood from agriculture and are neck deep in debt. While Machindra and a few others borrowed money from financially sound villagers at an interest rate of 10-12%per month, others borrowed from the Bank of India, ratu branch.” I had taken a loan of Rs 15,ooo from the bank for buying a water pump four years back but I have still not been able to repay it, even as the bank is breathing down my neck for recovery.” Said Prakash mahto.
The rains have failed for the past few years and this time too scanty and uneven rainfall has spoilt the crops, said Hindu oraon of the village where the only source of irrigation are wells. Paddy has now been sown but there is no water for irrigation.
When we relate this incident to NEP, then it is observed that in the era of NEP, the amount of loan facilities provided by the Public Sector Financial Institutes has decreased and the Private banks does not give any priority to the agriculture sector.
Another feature, which emerges under the reign of NEP, is total shift in the cropping pattern of Indian farmers. In order to attract the importers, more emphasis is given to cash crop now a day then to food grains. Inclination towards cash crop raises the problem of food security. This is clear from the statistics presented in the following tables.
TABLE 3: SHIFTS IN CROPPING PATTERN (in million per hectare)
FOODGRAINS
Crop
1990-91
1995-96
Paddy
24.6
24.7
Wheat
13.6
14.6
Coarse grain
21.9
18.6
Pulses
13.8
13.3
Total
73.9
71.2
CASH CROP
Oilseeds
13.4
15.0
Cotton
4.4
4.7
Sugarcane
2.0
2.2
Total crop
100
100
JHARKHAND FROM FACTUAL PERSPECTIVE:
The state of Jharkhand consists of 22 districts and 32,600 villages. The entity of Jharkahnd can be related to its large tribal population. According to
Census 2001 tribal population of jharkahnd comprises of 26%. 40% of total tribal population hails just from six districts, namely Ranchi, Lohadarga, East Singhbhum, Gumla, Dumka and Pakur. Out of total 211 Blocks, 112 Blocks comes under 5th Schedule of the Constitution and they are put under 14 Integrated Tribal Development Programmes. Almost 50% of the population of Jharkhand lives under below poverty line.
TABLE 5[3]: PERCENTAGE OF PEOPLE LIVING BELOW POVERT LINE 1999-2000:
STATE PERCENTAGE
Jharkhand 44.0
Bihar 40.9
Chattisgarh 40.5
Uttaranchal 15.2
Punjab 6.2
Maharashtra 25.0
Tamil Nadu 21.1
West Bengal 27.0
Orissa 47.2
THE STATE OF agriculture sector in Jharkhand strengthens the facts behind prevailing poverty.
In comparison to the total sown area of India, which is 47%, Jhakhand’s total sown area stands only at 22% out of which only 30% land is irrigated whereas, at national level the percentage of irrigated land is 39%. This disparity is revealed when we compare per hectare production of Jharkhand with overall per hectare production of India (based on study by Prof. G.S. Bhalla during 1992-95 of 50 sown farms)
SUB SECTORS: when we talk about the primary sector, then it is observed that the portion of agricultural and allied activities of Jharkhand state is only is 12.32% GDP, which is very low when, compared with National rate (23.16%).
In between 1994 to 2000, one can see important changes in Jharkhand - the contribution of agriculture and allied activities in GDP saw decline by 7. 24%
Analysis of Sector Wise Production (based on per person)
Primary sector: the performance of primary sector was worst as the per person production stood at Rs.10538.
Secondary sector: The performance in this sector was fair enough as the per person production stood at Rs. 42575.
Third sector: this sector produced the best result, where per person production stood at Rs. 52767.
TABLE: Structural Indicators of Development (Jharkhand)
Sector
1993-94
1999-2000
Change (in %)
Primary
40.16
28.6
- 11.56
Secondary
31.51
35.27
3.75
Third
28.33
36.13
7.80
TABLE: Structural Indicators of Development (India)
Sector
1993-94
1999-2000
Change (in %)
Primary
33.54
27.50
-6.04
Secondary
23.69
24.68
0.99
Third
42.77
47.87
5.10
IRRIGATION AND FARMING PATTERN OF JHARKHAND
Irrigation facilities in Jharkhand is not appropriate, the main sources of irrigation in this area mainly of wells, tube wells man made ponds, and rivers, rivulets etc. is inappropriate.
Statistics reveals that in the districts of Palamu, Deoghar, Godda and Hazaribagh the land under irrigation is 24.12%, 14.22%, 14.21% and 10.51% respectively. In the rest of the State less than 10% of land is suitable for cultivation.
This gives an idea about the deplorable and degrading state of agriculture in Jharkhand. 2.57% lakh hectare land is suitable for horticulture and floriculture, which makes only 3.25% land.
STARVATION DEATHS
The district of Palamu is considered Kalahandi of Jharkhand. The cases of starvation deaths are on increase since the decade of 90s. Besides Palamu District there are other districts as well where starvation deaths are growing.
GLANCE AT STARVATION DETAHS
Date
District
Panchayat/ thana
Block
Village
Dewans
October’92
Plamu
Dhanganw
Lesliganj
Koeli Bibi, Jashi Kajar
Kaguni Manjhi, Rambirich
28 Oct’92
do
Suakoria
Jorkat
Bihari Singh, Bhagrit Singh
Oct’92
do
Daltanganj
Dhulsulma
60 Deaths
Keshaw Singh
Sunil Singh
Vimal Singh
Sahodari Devi
Dr. Singh
Laxman Singh
Chandradeep Singh
Kabutari Kumari
Sima
Mahindra Singh
Madan Singh
Jageswar Singh
28 Oc’t92
do
Manika
Kasiadih
Sardah Sah
Baldeo Singh
Nov’92
do
Chapi
Lesliganj
Satkurwa
Mahesh Bhuiyan
Paro Devi
Nov’92
do
Hussainabad
Pratapur
Mangar Bhuiyan
Bangali Bhuiyan
Nov’92
do
Berbha
Chenpur
Bawandi
6 children
29 Nov’92
do
Samera
Kharo
Shanti Bhuiyan
Nov’92
do
Patan
Kankekala
Paltekala
Ramjatan Singh
Parbatia Bhuiyan
11 Dec’92
do
Chenpur
Harinamand
Ornand
Unakh Chowdhry
6 Dec’92
do
Patan
Imli
Balkeshwar Bhuiyan
9 Dec’92
do
Daltanganj
Rajwadih
Rajo Devi
14 Dec’92
do
Chenpur
Mumni
Ramjanam Korwa
93-96
Do
4 blocks
65 deaths
96-99
Do
4 blocks
45 deaths
99-2002
Do
NA
2002-03
do
Lesliganj
46 (see report PUCL) #
2004
18
April’93
Gharwa
Nawada
Shakbana
Sita Bhuiyan
Lal Bhuiyan
April’93
Gharwa
Nagaruntari thana
Haradag
Vigan Chowdhry
Ripu Chowdhry
1994-96
Gharwa
bhabdaria
8 deaths
1996-99
Do
kharandi
7 deaths
1999-2004
Giridih
4deaths
1999-2004
Chatra
6 death
2003-2004
Deoghar
madhupur
fulchi
2 deaths
2003-2004
Deoghar
devipur
1deaths
When we analyze the agriculture sector on the basis of the available data, we figure out that along with marginalized and small farmers the number of agricultural laborer has increased.
On one hand we see that the investment made by the farmers has doubled up with the usage of diesel, electricity, chemicals and fertilizers etc. whereas on the other hand in spite of increasing the investment they are not getting appropriate price for their production. Since past few years there is decline in production prices by 25 to 30%.
India being a member of WTO succumbed under its pressure and signed an agreement in 1999-2000 under which it has to remove quantitative control over the import of 1429 products. The entire process of removing quantitative control was completed in 2001.
Under this new policy adopted by the government, the farmers cultivating coconut, soybeans, oilseeds were the one, which suffered the most and reached the state of extreme poverty.
Today in India per person availability of food grain has declined in comparison to the scenario, which was before 50 or 15 years.
TABLE 6: PER PERSON AVAILIBILITY OF FOODGRAIN IN VARIOUS YEARS:
YEARS
FOODGRAIN (in Grams)
1926
549
1991
510
1995
507.1
1998
450.7
1999
467.7
Along with this it is also seen that the purchasing power has also declined.
STATE OF FARMERS IN PRESENT SCENARIO:
On one hand we see exemption of tax up to 60 thousand crore made to capitalists whereas on the other hand poor peasants who are under debt of 2 –5 thousands are forced to commit suicide, their lands and houses are corked and they are often imprisoned.
In midst of starvation deaths and farmer’s suicides, Government announced its New Agriculture policy, the main aim of this new policy is to bring Indian agriculture sector within the ambit of WTO and corporatisation.
Corporatisation of agriculture means, farming on large scale or capital-intensive farming.
In such pattern of agriculture there will be no role of small farmers. In this process, initially the big farmers will become tenants of small and marginalized farmers and later claim entitlement on their land. Beside this the budget, which is being presented the government since 91-92, carries a shade of New Economic Policy and liberalization. The budget portion on agriculture is declining since past few years.
CONCLUSION:
The starvation deaths and farmer’s suicides mainly due to crop failure has become trend of Indian agricultural scenario. After almost 6 decades of independence, there is no facility of crop insurance in India. The process of insurance has been initiated on some crops but in the annual budget this amount is almost negligible, for e.g. in the budget of 2001-02 only 261 crores was spent on crop insurance. Every year, droughts or floods affect one or the other area of India, in such a situation such meager amount spent on insurance is a mockery of Indian farmer. If the policies related to agriculture are not made pro people soon, the deplorable condition of Indian farmers will become worse.
[1] Economic Survey 1997-98
[2] Alternative economic survey 1991-98
[3] NSS
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Saturday, March 14, 2009
सोशल ऑडिट रिपोर्ट कोन्दुक्टेद बी MKS
NREGA: Summary of Irregularities in
Karon Block, Deoghar District
NREGA: Summary of Irregularities in Ganjebadi Gram Panchayat
(Karon Block, Deoghar District)
I.
Gram: Jasobandh
Worksite: Sichai Koop Nirmaan (Work No. 82/07-08)
Main Irregularities:
1. Fudging of MR
a. Fake entries in MR
i. False names
ii. Double entries
b. Inflated entries in MR
2. Low Wages
3. Involvement of Middlemen
Facts in Brief
The MR of this site has 25 names, of which 24 workers did not work at this site. The one entry that was correct, Gobind Murmu (s/o Lakhan Murmu) had only worked for 16 days, while the MR said 18 days. He was paid at Rs. 65 per day, a sum total of Rs.320, and the MR records show Rs. 436. There was found to be a discrepancy of 255 days and Rs. 21,537 in the MR and worker testimonies. Three entries were shown to have 2 different job card numbers on the MR of the same site.
Enclosures
1. Affidavit No. GJB-AF-5
2. MR (61478, 61404, 61216, 61303, 18202, 61306)
3. Madankatta Post Office Payment Order Slip (for 82/07-08)
II.
Gram: Kerakol
Worksite: Mitti Murram Sadak (Work No. 22/07-08)
Main Irregularities Observed:
1. Inflated entries in MR
2. Post office account operated without workers knowledge
3. Hoarding of passbooks and job cards
4. Implementing Agency
Facts in Brief
The work was carried out over a time period of 1/11/07 to 12/06/08. Of the 28 workers recorded on the MRs of this worksite, 75% workers were interviewed. No worker of the name of Miloni Soren (w/o Ranendra Tudu) was found to live anywhere in the village.
Furthermore every worker that was interviewed by the Audit team said that they had been paid in cash. However the payment order records and account slips obtained from the Madankatta Post Office show transactions in their names, although they all testified that they had never carried out any transactions on their accounts, and were not (and had never been) in possession of their passbooks.
Two women, Santori Soren and Manju Murmu were named as the implementing agency for this work, as head officials of a SHG. Upon investigation the Audit team realized that these two were just the front for a contractor, who made them sign on pieces of paper, and paid them sums of money between Rs. 100- Rs. 200 in return.
Enclosures
1. Affidavits No. GJB-AF-1, GJB-AF-2, GJB-AF-4
2. MR no. 61475, 61474, 61205, 61206, 61201, 61203, 61208, 61209, 61301, 61302
3. MR verification sheet
4. Madankatta Post Office Payment Order Slip (for 22/07-08)
III.
Gram: Kerakol
Worksite: Sichai Koop Nirmaan (Work No. 07/07-08)
Main Irregularities Observed:
1. Fudging of MR:
a. Fake names
b. Inflated entries for days
2. Job card and Passbook hoarding
3. Opening of Post Office accounts without the workers presence
4. Low Wage Payments
Facts in Brief
The work at this site was carried out from 24/03/08 to 19/06/08. Of the 10 workers recorded on the MR, 9 were interviewed and 4 workers reported that they had not worked at the site. There were discrepancies of 198 days and Rs.20314.60 in wage payments in the MRs and workers testimonies. All the workers reported that their job cards were with one Obilal Murmu, but he said that he had handed them over to the Panchayat Sewak, Govardhan Bhokta. The workers also reported to have been paid at the rate of Rs. 65 per day.
Enclosures
1. Affidavits No. GJB-AF-03
2. MR
3. Madan Katta Post Office Payment Order for (07/07-08)
IV.
Gram: Kerakol
Worksite: Uparbahiyar mein Vijay Ahari ke pas Talaab
Main Irregularities
1. Delayed Payments
2. Opening of Post Office Accounts without workers presence
3. Hoarding of Pass Books
Facts in Brief
Although the audit team was not in the possession of any documents regarding this worksite, atleast 39 workers from this village reported that they had not been paid in full for this work, which was carried out in 2006-07. The work was carried out by a contractor: one Nonuraam Rawani (from Burikuran gram, Navabaan tola.) The aforementioned had also taken sums of money between Rs. 100 to Rs. 300 to open their Post Office accounts, and made the workers sign on blank slips of paper. Subsequently the workers had not been given their passbooks, and therefore it is assumed that the same have been in the possession of Nonumraam Rawani for the last year. The workers reported that they had not ever carried out any operations on these accounts, but the account details obtained from the Post Office show sums of money ranging from Rs. 2000 to Rs. 10,000 being deposited and withdrawn from these accounts, all without the workers knowledge.
Enclosures
1. Affidavit no. GJB-AF-6, GJB-AF-7
2. Post Office Savings Bank Ledgers (a/c 1190021 to 1190043)
3. Post Office Payment Orders (for works 82/07-08, 22/07-08, 07/07-08)
NREGA: Summary of Irregularities in Tekra Gram Panchayat
(Karon Block, Deoghar District)
I.
Gram: Tekra
Worksite: Sinchai Koop Nirmaan, Indu Mandal (Work No. 9/07-08)
Main Irregularities
1. Fudging of MR
a. Fake entries
b. Inflated entries in MR
2. Low Wage payments
3. Involvement of Middleman
Facts in Brief
The work at the well was carried out from 15/02/08 to 21/06/08. 11 workers were on the MR of this site, and the Audit team was able to meet 10; 6 names on the MR were found to be false entries (the workers testified that they had not worked at the site). However, the payments (of Rs. 1555) were still credited to their bank accounts (on the 12th of May, 2008). The people who did not work at the site testified that they went to the bank accompanied by a middleman by the name of Vikram Mehto and gave him the money after withdrawing it. There were discrepancies of 90 days and Rs. 8,072 in wage payments in the MR and workers testimonies.
Enclosures
1. Affidavits (TK-AF-1, TK-AF-2, TK-AF-3, TK-AF-4)
2. MR for the site
II.
Gram: Tekra
Worksite: Sinchai Koop Nirman (Churan Pandit) (Work No. 4/07-08)
Main Irregularities
1. Fudging of MRs
a. False entries
b. Inflated entries
2. Poor Maintenance of Job Card
Facts in Brief
11 workers are on the MR for this worksite; the work was carried out between 19/02/08 to 28/05/08. Of the 11 workers, 2 did not work at the site. One was found to be a fictitious name; and another entry, Ritu Mandal (s/o Khetu Mandal) did not work at the site, but there was a transfer of payments to his account. Overall there were discrepancies of 12 days and Rs. 521 in the 4 other workers whose testimonies were taken. The major problem seen at this site was incorrect job card numbers given on the MR, and poor maintenance of Job Cards. Other than the fake names the Audit team also met with workers who had actually worked on the site, and had received payments, but whose names had not been recorded in the MR.
The works were not decided in Gram Sabhas, instead the residents of the village claimed that the Gram Sewak had to be paid sums of money ranging from Rs.1000/- to Rs.2000/-to get a well sanctioned.
The MRs were not present at the worksite at any point during the work; instead the implementing agency takes the attendance on a kaccha khata, and the MR stays with the middlemen and the concerned officials at the village level. This is reflected in the huge discrepancies between the data on the MR and the testimonies of the workers.
The workers were not paid at the minimum wage rate; instead they are paid according to Rs.70/- . However on the 16th of October, 2008 the workers claimed that the middleman involved, Vikram Mehto, had repaid the balance of Rs. 16. (This claim could be due to intimidation by the middleman, as we heard that he had visited each worker several times after they gave their testimony to the Audit team).
There is also no correspondence between the job card entries and the MR entries, (see enclosed MR verification sheet) which indicates that semi-literate workers are being taken advantage of by middlemen and officials.
Although the workers are withdrawing wages credited to their bank accounts themselves, they often hand the same over to the contractor/ middlemen involved. The bank system therefore, has made the wage payments more opaque, since there is no column anywhere for the worker to sign or indicate that he has infact received the wage payment.
Enclosures
1. Affidavit TK-AF-5
2. MR (58251, 58253, 58238, 58239, 58249, 18584, 18535)
3. Vananchal Bank Pay Orders (for 4/07-08)
NREGA: Summary of Irregularities in Badiya Gram Panchayat
(Karon Block, Deoghar District)
I.
Gram: Navadih
Worksite: Sinchai Koop Nirmaan (Work No. 09/07-08)
Abhikarta: Mohilal Baski
Main Irregularities
- Involvement of Contractor
- MR not present at the worksite
- Cash Payments
- Hoarding of passbooks, Job Cards
- Low Wages
Facts in Brief
There are 11 workers involved at this site, and the work was carried out from 09/04/08 to 14/07/08. The Audit team could meet with 6 of the 11 workers. Discrepancies were seen in the Worker testimonies and MR.
The work said to be was carried out by the contractor, Hriday Rai and Lallan Rai. The workers pass books and job cards had also been hoarded by the aforementioned. The workers were paid in cash, at the residence of the postmaster (who is also the father of Hriday Rai). Although the post office passbooks record transactions in the names of the workers, the workers testified that they had not been to the post office for any of these transactions.
Enclosures
1. Affidavits BDY-AF-1, BDY-AF-2, BDY-AF-3, BDY-AF-5
2. Baskupi Post Office Pay Orders
II.
Gram: Jugtopa
Worksite: Mitti Moram Karya Grade 1 path nirman se Jayati nadi tak.
(Work No. 175/07-08)
List of Irregularities
- Involvement of contractor.
- Fudging of MR
- Manipulation of passbooks.
- Faulty maintenance of Job cards and Passbooks
- Payment in cash.
The Facts in brief
The contractor Lallan Singh’s involvement in this work was clear. The Abhikarta, a woman named Sarodi Murmoo was completely clueless about the work. Her husband a man named Sobna Murmoo was also unaware of everything except the total amount sanctioned. The MR had inflated entries against all the names. The job card numbers mentioned on the MR do NOT match with the original job cards. The audit team observed that there was a lot of over writing on the job cards. Passbooks have also not been maintained properly as two workers had the same passbook number (Jonalal Murmoo and Babujan Baski: 1191192). These two workers are not related. The entries in these passbooks do NOT match with the payment orders. None of the workers have ever been to the post office and were all paid in cash either at the worksite or at Shyam Rai’s (the contractor’s father) house.
Enclosures
- MRs 66402-04, 66407-11, 66805-07, 66481, 82, 60855.
- Bank payment orders.
- Affidavits B AF-3, B AF-6, B AF-7, B AF-8, B AF-9, B AF- 10, B AF-11, B AF-12, B AF-13, B AF- 14, B AF- 15, B AF- 16, B AF- 17, B AF- 18, B AF- 20, b AF- 21, B AF-22, B AF-23
NREGA: Summary of Irregularities in Ranidih Gram Panchayat
(Karon Block, Deoghar District)
Gram: Karon Pahadi
Worksite: Khas Bandh Jeeronddhar (Check Dam renovation) (Work No741/07-08).
List of Main Irregularities
- Fudging of Muster Roll.
- Involvement of ‘middle man’.
- Hoarding of Job Cards, pass books.
- Underpayment of Wages.
- Cash payments.
The facts in brief:
The audit team verified the Muster Rolls and found large-scale faking of names and inflated entries. We obtained muster rolls for 11 shifts from 1.1.08- 20.6.08. Twenty laborers were engaged at the worksite (according to the MR) out of which six had not worked at the worksite for even a day. All the other entries were inflated (the MR said that some laborers had worked for 72 days but when asked they said they had worked only for 15- 20 days. There was also a ‘middle man’ whose name was on the MR (Jailal Tuddu). Although he hadn’t worked, he was responsible for hoarding job cards and pass books. The labourers also said that they had been paid at the rate of Rs. 70 despite the prevailing wage rate being Rs. 86.40. The bank payment slips from the Cooperative Bank show that the money had been transferred to their individual bank accounts; however all payments had been made in cash, by the panchayat sewak and this middle man.
Enclosures
- Muster roll verification sheet.
- Bank Payment Slips.
II.
Gram: Chorbadiya.
Worksite: Sohan Hembram ki zameen par sinchai koop nirman (Construction of a well on Sohan Hembram’s land) (Work No. 150/07-08)
Main Irregularities
1. Involvement of Contactor
2. Manipulation of pass book.
2. Cash Payments
3. Underpayment of wages
The facts in brief
Sohan Hembram was the labhuk for the well construction as the work was done on his land. The panchayat sewak got him to open a bank account (although, he never went to the bank). His passbook had no transactions. Also throughout the construction he was asked to pay for materials etc although no money flowed through his account. His name was NOT on the MR. The obtained MR for 7 shifts was completely fake as he said that all the labourers were from an adjoining Gram Panchayat brought by the contractor. The bank payment slips from the Cooperative Bank show that the money had been transferred to their individual bank accounts. Also all payments were made in cash and at the rate of Rs. 70.
Enclosures
- Affidavit RND AF-4.
- Bank payment slips.
III.
Gram: Chorbadiya
Worksite: Pane Hembram ki zameen par sinchai koop nirman (well construction on Pane Hembram’s land) (Work No. 37/07-08)
List of Irregularities
- Fudging of Muster rolls
- Involvement of Contactor
- Manipulation of Bank accounts.
The Facts in brief
The audit team verified muster rolls for 7 pakhwadas from 16.3.08- 26.5.08. The MR contained 20 names out of which 14 were interviewed. None of these had worked even for a day. A conractor Rohit Singh was also involved. Pane was the labhuk and his name is even on the MR but he said that he hadn’t worked. The bank payment slips from the Cooperative Bank show that the money had been transferred to their individual bank accounts.
Enclosures
- MR verification sheet.
- Bank payment slips
IV.
Gram: Chorbadiya
Worksite: Dharam Das Singh ki zameen par sinchai koop nirman (Well construction on Dharam Das Singh’s land) (Work No. 32/07-08)
List of Irregularities
- Fudging of Muster rolls.
- Involvement of contractor.
- underpayment of wages
- Cash Payment
- Manipulation of bank accounts.
The Facts in brief
The audit team obtained muster rolls for 8 shifts from 1.3.08- 21.6.08 and found that most of the labourers hadn’t worked even for a day while other entries were inflated. There was a contractor by the name of Naval Kishor who was involved and he contracted labourers from Govindpur, in Tarapur Panchayat. The team also spoke with some villagers who said that they had indeed worked but they’re names were not on the MR. The bank payment slips from the Cooperative Bank show that the money had been transferred to their individual bank accounts, however all the workers were paid in cash at the rate of Rs. 70. Also, the MR shows that one of the names Manchan Rajwar had worked for 18 days. He was afflicted with Polio and had clearly never worked at the site.
Enclosures
- Muster roll verification sheet.
- Bank payment slips.
- Affidavit RND-AF-3
V.
Gram: Ranidih
Worksite: Koka Baori ke zameen par sinchai koop nirman (well construction on Koka Baori’s Land) (Work No. 339/07-08)
List of Irregularities
1. Involvement of Contractor
2. Cash Payment
3. Underpayment of wages.
The Facts in brief
Koka was the labhuk for the well construction. The work was contracted to Naval Kishor Singh. Koka says he collected a cheque worth Rs. 15,000 when the work started and one worth Rs. 17,000 when the work concluded. He was not made aware of any other money which was sanctioned for the work. He gave this money to the conractor. The contractor used to pay the labourers in cash at the rate of Rs. 70. The bank payment slips from the Cooperative Bank show that the money had been transferred to their individual bank accounts; however Koka said that wage payment was done at Naval Kishor’s home where the workers were called individually. Manchan Rajwar’s name (ref. Dharam Das Singh koop nirman) also appeared in this MR for 12 days of work, although he had never worked at the site.
Enclosures
- Affidavit RND AF-1
- Bank payment slips.
NREGA: Summary of Irregularities in Mahuatan Gram Panchayat
(Karon Block, Deoghar District)
I.
Gram: Simra
Worksite: Taufeeq Jarra ji zameen par sinchai koop nirman (Scheme No. 8/07-08)
List of Irregularities
- Extraction of bribes
- Fudging of MR
The facts in brief
Taufeeq was the labhuk and he had to bribe the gram sewak with Rs. 2500, to get the well passed. He also had to continually pay the gram sewak 10% and the overseer 13% of the money he got from the well. To pay the wages and for the materials he had to take a loan of Rs. 20,000 for which he had to sell one bull and had to take a mortgage for Rs. 5000 for his land. The MR would not be available at the site and was filled afterwards. There were some fake names on the MR, the workers said that they hadn’t worked but to ‘help’ Taufeeq they would withdraw money from the bank and give him. He used to pay them Rs. 100 each. One Bhari Pujhar said that he received Rs. 2200 in two installments. Although he went to the bank to collect both installments, his bank statement shows 3 installments of Rs. 1728, Rs. 1382 and Rs. 1728. The statement shows that the third installment has been withdrawn, but he has no knowledge of this. MR and Job card entries do not match for some other workers employed at the site.
Enclosures
- MR verification sheet.
- Affidavit MHT AF-2
- Bank payment slips.
VI.
Gram: Mahuatand
Worksite: Pramod Rai ki zameen par koop nirman
List of Irregularities:
- Delays in wage payments
The Facts in brief:
Workers employed at the worksite have yet to receive full payment despite of the fact that it has been 45 days since the work finished. The work lasted 27 days
Enclosures
1. Affidavit MHT AF-2
Gram: Simra
Complaints:
- Works are not available
- Works are opened only by the contractor Shamsham Khan.
- Gram sewak is never available at the Panchayat office.
- Also despite repeated requests, some villagers’ job cards have still not been made.
Enclosures
- Affidavit MHT AF-3
- Affidavit MHT AF-4
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