Assam organisation demands CBI probe into alleged scam in NRC upgradation process

Following the allegations, the upgradation process of NRC is likely to derail while the Supreme Court ordered the authority to publish the draft NRC by December 31 next.

Assam Public Works president Abhijit Sarma said that, the man behind the entire anomaly is State coordinator of NRC Prateek Hajela.

According to Assam Public Works, the organisation had filed a writ petition (274/2009) before the Supreme court on July 20, 2009.

"Our allegations that 41 lakhs Bangladeshi voters in 2006 Assam voters list. As a result of the same, court's order on updating NRC been implemented in Assam under supervision of the Supreme Court. Where in the Union government allocated a sum of Rs 900 crores for the project. The work of updating NRC in Assam had started which is still active and ongoing till date. The NRC authority in Assam, headed by Prateek Hajela, IAS, issued work order on the basis of a single tender to 'WIPRO' for supplying IT manpower for the post of Data Entry Executive. Till date around 9000 persons have been engaged in work as Data Entry Executive in the entire state who is being paid only Rs 5000 per month," the organisation said.

"NRC authority had fixed an amount of Rs 14,500 against each Data Entry Executive per month,  which is being drawn by WIPRO. However WIPRO had out-sourced the work of supply of IT man power to a third party namely ISS (Integrated Systems and Service) @ Rs 8000 against each Data Entry Executive per month and finally the employees are paid only a total of Rs 5000 per month. Keeping a share @ Rs 6,500 against each Data Entry Executive per month by WIPRO and keeping a share @ Rs 3,000 against each Data Entry Executive per month by 'Integrated Systems and Service'  is totally illegal as the actual employees are getting only Rs 5,000 per month which is far below the amount fixed as per Minimum Wages Act presently in force for skilled labours," APW said.

Meanwhile, the organisation filed an FIR before the CBI at Guwahati office on August 25 last and demanded a probe into the scam.

The organisation demanded an investigation be carried out regarding the aforesaid aspects starting from tender, work order etc. up to disbursement of the fund as well as payment for bringing out the truth and doing the needful as per law.

(Reporting by Hemanta Kumar Nath)