Eating up project money meant for ultra-poor
Labourers, employed for a road construction project under a government programme for providing temporary job for the ultra poor people, have been engaged to dig a pond at the house of a local Jubo League leader in Madarbunia union of Patuakhali Sadar upazila. Only 12 0f the 77 listed workers under the project have been provided job. Photo: STAR
Only three male labourers are working in a project for construction of a 2000-foot-long road from Mohammadpur to Charabunia under Madarbunia union in Patuakhali Sadar upazila while 77 people including 26 females were listed for the purpose. Locals alleged that ruling Awami League men have taken control of most of 478 such projects under the government's 40-day programme meant to create job opportunity for the ultra-poor people in the district. But a large portion of the allocated money is embezzled as the job is done with very small number of workers although bills are taken against all the people listed for the purpose, they said. Each of the 38,730 labourers, listed for the programme in seven upazilas of the district, is to get Tk 120 per day for the work during the 40-day period and Tk 18 crore 59 lakh and four thousand has been allocated for the purpose, said sources at District Relief and Rehabilitation Office. During a recent visit to three such projects under the government's 40-day programme to create job opportunity for the ultra-poor people in Patuakhali, this correspondent found the works being run with much less labourers than listed. Only nine male labourers were found working in the project of road construction from 'Khan Bari to Mridha Bari' under Kalaikapur Union Parishad in Patuakhali Sadar upazila. When contacted, local UP member Shah Alam told over cell phone, "According to contract, 86 labourers including 30 females should work every day under the project. I don't know how the job is being done as ruling Awami League men are conducting the project work." Twelve labourers including 10 women work in the project for the road construction from Shahjahan Howlader Bari to Eunus Howlader Bari under Madarbunia UP although the number of listed workers is 77. A local Jubo League leader is conducting the work. This correspondent saw labourers, employed for the road construction project, digging a pond at his house. Contacted, Patuakhali Sadar Upazila Nirbahi Officer Md Zakir Hossain said, "We have received a few allegations in this regard. We have already asked all project committees to conduct work according to contract." "My office received many allegations in this regard. I have already asked the district relief and rehabilitation officer, nirbahi officers of all seven upazilas and all upazila project implementation officers to visit project areas from 9:00am to 12 noon project," said Patuakhali Deputy Commissioner Md Reaz Ahmed. Following instructions by the DC, a team led by District Relief and Rehabilitation Officer (DRRO) Nogendra Nath Roy on April 26 visited four projects in Galachipa upazila. The team found 30 labourers working against 65 listed ones in project No 136 and 62 labourers against 85 people in project No 138 under Gajalia UP. On April 30, the team submitted a report to the DC, describing the irregularities and recommending necessary action against project committees concerned, the DRRO said.
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