Three employment guarantee mates suspended for a year for attending DYFI’s human chain after signing attendance

PATHANAMTHITTA: Three Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee (MGNREG) Mates have been suspended for a year for participating in the human chain after signing theattendance. Three mates of Pathanamthitta Pallikal Panchayat who went to participate in DYFI's human chain after signing the register were suspended.

Three mates and 70 workers went to attend the political party’s programme after signing their attendance and taking photo. The ombudsman said in the order that their wages for the day should be deducted. Action was taken against the mates on the basis of the complaint filed by the Congress and the BJP.

The incident happened on January 20 in the 20th ward of Pallikal Panchayat. The complaint is that around 70 guaranteed workers from three sites reached the work place and after recording their attendance through NMMS and muster roll went to participate in the human chain. Among these were three mates who are supervisors of their work.

On an investigation conducted following a complaint, it was found that the mates and workers went to attend the human chain after signing their attendance. However, even after this, some of the mates complained that the accused mates participated in the training and that they were exempted from employment as per the law. It is also alleged that the list of those participating in the training was prepared as per the wish of the ward member in the panchayat ruled by CPM. The ombudsman has directed the Pallikal panchayat secretary to provide training to the complainants if they have no other disqualifications.