to Village Jharua in Manika Block of Latehar - Ministry of Rural ...

ii. Whether the deceased Niyamat Ansari was active as a member of a vigilant
group keeping a watch over the Mahatma Gandhi NREGA programme in the
district?
iii. Whether the murder of the deceased Niyamat Ansari arises from his activities
as a whistleblower?
iv. Who are the persons responsible for the murder of the deceased Niyamat
Ansari?
v. What have been the responsibilities of the DPC in this incident?
vi. What are the recommendations for preventing recurrence of such incidence in
the future?
Corruption in Mahatma Gandhi NREGA
18. It has to be admitted that there is widespread corruption in the implementation of the
Mahatma Gandhi NREGA programme in the district of Latehar. In the year 2010 earlier a
team led by Deputy Secretary (MGNREGA), Shri Rohit Kumar had visited Latehar and
found that many Schemes did not exist on the ground. The State Government had been
requested to take action against the officials and others guilty of acts of omission and
commission including supervisory lapses but no action appears to have been taken against the
DPC and the other senior officials. This matter had been brought to the notice of the State
authorities personally by the Secretary (RD) and the State Government was requested to
handover the case to the CBI on the ground that it did not require a team from the
Government of India to unearth such irregularities while there was a whole retinue of
officials in the district entrusted with the powers of superintendence over the matter. Only
minor officials have been placed under suspension and acted against.
19. There is no place for contractors in the programme. However, it is evident that there
is a predominance of contractors in the implementation as is corroborated by the statement of
witnesses. These contractors belong to the influential section of the society and are in a
position to create linkages with the administration. It appears that all the control points in the
implementation of the programme have been neutralised and there is interlocking of the
various interest groups over the issue of sharing illegal gains from the programme. The entire
programme appears to be sinking in corruption.
20. The incident also creates a doubt regarding the authenticity of the reports submitted
regarding the progress. It is only a matter of chance that this incident was detected thanks to
some very spirited action on part of a vigilant group, though at a tremendous cost. It is
evident that there is animus between the vigilante groups and the district administration.
During the course of my stay there was a consistent attempt to depict the vigilant groups as
extortionists and criminal and not a word was said in acknowledgement of their role, so much
so for a person which had risked and sacrificed his life upholding the rights of the Mahatma
Gandhi NREGA workers.
Membership of the Deceased in a Watch Group
21. In so far as the second fact issue is concerned it is more than evident that the deceased
Niyamat Ansari was an active member of a watch group. The District Administration also
admits this fact but also alleges that he was doing extortion in the guise of watch over the
acts. However, if this were true the deceased could have settled the issue with the contractors
and the corrupt elements and not brought the matter to the notice of the senor officials and Dr
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