"Ten FIRs have been lodged against VEC secretaries for criminal conspiracy, misappropriation of funds, cheating, fraud, criminal breach of trust for irregularities in implementation of MGNREGA scheme," said Pravin Bakshi, West Garo Hills Deputy Commissioner who is also the District Programme Coordinator of the scheme.
The decision to take action against defaulters was taken last week at a meeting of the block development officers and other officials following the Union Ministry's withholding Rs 55 crore fund for not taking "strict" action against defaulters in the district.
In Meghalaya, in the absence of the Panchayati system, MGNREGA is implemented by Village Employment Council having all beneficiaries of the scheme as members.
The district administration has been directed to take strictest possible action following findings of the social audit, indicating irregularities in implementation of MNREGS, which was subsequently verified by social audit public hearings in the respective villages, Bakshi said.
