Latest news with #MGNREGA-funded
Hindustan Times
a day ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Congress leader Heera Jotwa, son held in ₹7.3 crore MGNREGA rural jobs scheme case
Ahmedabad: Congress leader Heera Jotwa, his son Digvijay, and MGNREGA operator Rajesh Tailor were arrested on Friday for their alleged involvement in financial irregularities amounting to ₹ 7.3 crore in the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) scheme, which provides 100 days of guaranteed wage employment to rural households, police said. Started in 2005, MGNREGS was envisaged as a demand-based rural asset creation scheme to provide livelihood security through 100 days of guaranteed wage employment to every rural household. (Representative photo) A special investigation team (SIT) is probing the fraudulent diversion of funds meant for rural development projects in Hansot, in Gujarat's Bharuch district, an officer said. The financial irregularities, uncovered by the district rural development authority (DRDA), involved fake work completion certificates and forged documents, with funds transferred to accounts linked to the Jotwa family and others. 'Congress leader Heera Jotwa, his son Digvijay, and MGNREGA operator Rajesh Tailor were arrested on Friday,' Bharuch superintendent of police (SP) Mayur Chavda said. Gujarat Congress spokesperson Manish Doshi alleged political vendetta and demanded a judicial probe, while also calling for action against government officials who sanctioned the flawed works. Started in 2005, MGNREGS was envisaged as a demand-based rural asset creation scheme to provide livelihood security through 100 days of guaranteed wage employment to every rural household. It has been described as a poverty alleviation, social security, infrastructure building, and participatory development programme. However, various studies have also pointed out leakages and failings in the programme due to poor implementation. Jotwa was summoned from his home in the Gir Somnath district on Thursday and brought to Bharuch, where a special SIT team has been probing the misuse of funds allocated for road construction and development works in 56 villages across the Amod, Jambusar, and Hansot talukas, a police officer requesting anonymity said. Also Read: Men dressed up in sarees to claim MNREGA funds in place of women The irregularities came to light following a detailed audit that found glaring discrepancies in MGNREGA-funded projects, including the use of machines instead of manual labour, the supply of substandard materials, and inflated billing by contractors. Police said more arrests may follow in the coming days. Jotwa, a prominent leader from the Saurashtra region, had contested the 2022 Gujarat Assembly elections from Keshod and the 2024 Lok Sabha polls from Junagadh. The Bharuch district administration lodged an FIR on May 30 after receiving the audit findings, and an SIT was formed to investigate the matter.
Time of India
7 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Once a hotbed of crime, this village now a hub of education & industry
Madhepura: Once notorious for gun-toting gangs and lawlessness, Kalasan village in Madhepura district is undergoing a revolution. Located in the Uda-Kishunganj subdivision, the village, once synonymous with violence, is now fast emerging as a hub for education and industry in the region. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Kalasan, which saw its darkest days till the early 2000s, now boasts institutions that symbolise progress and peace. An Industrial Training Institute and a polytechnic college have been set up, alongside a Panchayat Sarkar Bhawan, an MGNREGA-funded sports ground and even a full-fledged stadium to promote athletic talent. A residential school for minority communities is under construction to provide quality education to children from underprivileged backgrounds. The energy is palpable and young people in the village are now passionate about gaining admission into these institutions and preparing for a brighter future. "Time manages everything," said Sanjeev Kumar, a resident of Kalasan. "Farmers now work freely in their fields without fear. The change is real," he added. But the journey to this point was anything but smooth. Back in 1984, the village was considered a safe haven for Maoists. It was here that a group, led by Gonar Sharma, attacked a local police camp, killed a guard and looted firearms. Sharma was later killed and the region fell under the shadow of the infamous Faizan Gang. What followed was a series of violent rivalries. A gang led by Naresh Yadav challenged Faizan's dominance, followed by the emergence of the Tutli Singh and Badal Singh gangs. All of them eventually met their end in either gang wars or police encounters. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now At the height of the violence, murder, dacoity and extortion were daily occurrences. People feared stepping out after sunset. Farmers were even forced to pay "protection money" just to cultivate their own land. "The 314 acres of govt land in the area had long been a bone of contention among these warring factions," said Nawal Kishor Jaiswal, a local educationist and social activist. "Now, 146 acres have been transferred to the Bihar Industrial Area Development Authority. Work is underway to build industrial infrastructure and attract food processing units," he added. Connectivity, once a major hurdle, has also improved significantly. Villagers now have easy access to Bhagalpur and beyond, thanks to the upgraded state highway. The state govt has constructed a parallel road alongside National Highway 106 and built a large bridge over the eastern Kosi river between Vijay Ghat and Naugachhia. Another mega bridge is under construction on NH-107, linking Fulaut to Bihpur. It is expected to be completed by the end of the financial year. "People are looking forward to a better future for themselves and the generations to come," said a hopeful local.
