Charged with NREGS malpractice,CPM members join PCAPA

The incident took place in Paluibani village of Salboni. Along with members of the Maoist-backed Sidhu Kanhu Gana Militia,PCAPA activists humiliated the CPM leaders and paraded them around in the village.

In the “gana-adalat”,the CPM leaders admitted to the corruption. A CPM worker who was also eyewitness to the incident,said: “They admitted to siphoning off money for the schemes and alleged that they were threatened and forced to do it by senior party leaders,who were also getting a share of the spoils.”

Around 1,500 people are eligible to get work under the NREGS in the block,said a member of the local panchayat. They are entitled to work for 100 days a year. “But this year,no one has worked for more than seven to eight days,” he said. “This state of affairs has been going on for around three years and crores have siphoned off.”

The panchayat leaders included Khagen Mahato (zonal committee member),Renuka Mahato (local committee member),Nitai Chalak (zonal committee member),Manik Chalak,(secretary of zonal committee),Ashtam Mahatom (panchayat member) and Kshitis Mahato (local committee member).

“They left the CPM today and joined the PCAPA. We will increase our strength this way,” said PCAPA convener Asit Mahato. This is the fourth time CPM workers have been humiliated in this manner in the district. But while incidences of quitting the party had been rife,no one had formally joined the PCAPA.

District Magistrate,West Midnapore,NS Nigam said they are yet to receive any complaint about the issue.

“Over last one year,four cases of corruption under the NREGS have been lodged in the district. If the people concerned are found guilty,action will be taken against them,” he said.

Under the NREGS,road construction,pond digging and afforestation activities are undertaken in the area.

The district committee secretary of the CPM,Dipak Sarkar,said: “All this are conspiracies of PCAPA members and the Maoists.”