Rayagada district administration’s inquiry is void of natural justice to Timi Pusika
Badal Tah,Odishabarta
Rayagada, May 23: Recently Dangaria tribal woman Timi Pushika belonging to Primarily Vulnerable Tribal Group(PVTG) complained before Rayagada District Admn about financial irregularities meted out to her by DKDA-OPELIP. As per her complain out of ₹.27000 granted for seasonal entrepreneurial business to her, ₹.6500 was taken away as bribe by Ramesh Nalla & Sahadeb. Administration says that Sahadeb is a private person and Nalla works in an NGO.
According to Timi, Sahadeb also took bribe amounting Rs.5000 for providing a pump for irrigation. Administration says Sahadeb took this money 10 years back. Timi said she was cooking for children for last 14 months & did not get a single pie as a cook from OPELIP. Administration says that as there was no money, she was not paid; but now the cheque has been made in the name of SHG. The money will be credited to Timi’s account on Monday. In a concluding remark, the district administration opines that no govt official is involved in this entire episode.
This has raised a paradox and plethora of questions in the context of the administrative inquiry & abuse. “Why Timi was not paid honorarium from OPELIP via SHG for 14 months while all Govt staff in OPELIP-DKDA project enjoyed taking salaries every month ? Why Timi was given cash amounting ₹.21000 on Sunday while Administration said to transfer this amount to Timi’s bank account on Monday ? Why the administration and it’s nexus were so anxious and terribly quick to hush up the matter ? Why did the Govt authorities in OPELIP-DKDA not monitor the project after sanctioning ₹.27000 to Timi for income generation ? Why was District Administration in a hurry ? The officials need to respond and can not pass on the blame to others.”, rued James Sabar, leader of Jana Jagaran Mancha. James, an Ex-Sarapanch, belonging to Lanjia Saura tribe, another PVTG from Putasing area of Gunupur.
“Ramesh Nalla works in the NGO, which is a party of OPELIP-DKDA as per IFAD agreement. Govt sanctions money to NGO. If some violation has taken place by a partner, the other partner is also equally responsible. This is the principle of partnership. So, why this farce by the Rayagada administration ?”, asked another senior tribal leader named Dibakar Sabar, District Convenor of Odisha Adibasi Manch.
The Govt considers Timi’s case as serious & grave. That’s why ADM, BDO, Chairperson & Vice-Chairperson of Bissam Cuttack block & other Govt staff had to rush to Timi’s village Balapai next day of Timi’s complain at district headquarters. Why exactly Rs.6500 & Rs.5000 were returned back to Timi before District Admn’s visit to Timi’s village ? Cognizance of the statements of Timi Pusika is over looked by the enquiry committee.
The bribe money taken by the intermediary has been refunded to Timi after she met the officials. How come it happens like this ? Timi has never gone to the concerned NGO. DKDA-OPELIP is fully responsible for the illegal transaction. The administration has not adopted formal process of enquiry with the NGO, VDC, Self help group. The inquiry report submitted by administration is void of natural justice.
There is a wall painting on Timi’s house depicting logos of IFAD, OPELIP-DKDA, Govt of Odisha and NGO. There it is mentioned that Rs..27000 as assistance was given by OPELIP & NGO. It is really unfortunate that though the name of an international agency like IFAD is mentioned, there is no mention of Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MOTA) or Department of Economic Affairs of Ministry of Finance of GOI as nodal agency, which extended the loan money to Odisha Govt. This is the case for all the schemes in all project villages. Why and with what intention ? Is this consciously done ? Is this not primarily the fault of govt staff working in OPELIP-DKDA ? With these statements & questions fumes Shyam Das, an RSS Swayam Sevak & a social worker.
“Hence, this Govt project DKDA-OPELIP as a part of the district administration is fully involved in Timi’s episode. Giving clean chit to the govt staff in the said project is certainly a hoax. It just can’t wash off its hand by passing on the blame to Timi, Ramesh, Sahadeb, SHG, NGO, etc. In spite of several news in print, electronic, web and social media against this govt project, why the district administration tries to give a clean chit to Govt staff, whose involvement is conspicuous ?”, asked Das, Joint Coordinator of Swabalamban-Rayagada district unit, which strives to encourage entrepreneurial initiatives in the district. Das has demanded a third party investigation where GOI must intervene as a partyto unearth the sheer maladministration and corruption of the loan money meant for development of the PVTG.
