Anupam Pal, Kailashahar
Widespread irregularities, corruption, and misappropriation of funds have been alleged in the rubber plantation project in Unakoti, Hirachhara, and Deorachhara ADC villages under Gournagar RD Block of Unakoti district. Over the issue, the Gournagar Panchayat Samiti has finally approached the Chief Secretary.
Badruzzaman, Vice Chairman of the Gournagar Panchayat Samiti, alleged that for a long time there have been no Village Committees or Block Advisory Committees in these three ADC villages. As a result, the responsibility of approving projects including MGNREGA has fallen on the Panchayat Samiti. But this opportunity is being misused by certain departmental officials and ruling party leaders.
Since the financial year 2023–24, hundreds of beneficiary names have been forwarded by the Tribal Welfare Department and the Tripura Rubber Plantation Corporation. As per rules, each beneficiary must be a patta holder and a family can avail this benefit only once. But in reality, multiple members of the same families have been made beneficiaries more than once.
In Unakoti ADC village, where there are only 351 patta holder families, several hundred people have been made beneficiaries. In Hirachhara village, although there are 151 patta holder families, the number of beneficiaries is several times higher. Similar irregularities have been reported in Deorachhara as well. Shockingly, though the total number of patta holder families in the three villages is 786, as many as 799 beneficiaries have been recorded!
The allegations became more serious when it was revealed that the allocation meant for Unakoti and Hirachhara villages was shifted to Deorachhara. Badruzzaman claimed that some influential leaders and officials are deliberately manipulating the process. As a result, the true beneficiaries are being deprived of their rightful benefits.
He also alleged that, under the instructions of the District Magistrate, funds of MGNREGA are being deducted from the block and sent to the Zonal Development Office, leaving the Panchayat Samiti with virtually no decision-making power.
To protest this alarming corruption, the Chairman of the Gournagar Panchayat Samiti, Laxmi Namah, and Vice Chairman Badruzzaman submitted a written complaint to the Chief Secretary on July 22. A copy of the complaint was also sent to the Chief Minister. However, no action has been visible so far.
In strong words, Badruzzaman said, “The Tribal Welfare Department has become lost in the greed for money. Massive scams are happening in these three ADC villages. The government must immediately conduct a proper investigation and expose the truth.”
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