The Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC) has launched a scathing attack on the state’s Rural Development (RD) Department, alleging rampant and illegal deductions from Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) funds meant for rural beneficiaries. The opposition party has demanded immediate government intervention, warning that the misuse of public funds is robbing thousands of villagers of their rightful livelihood support. The allegations come in the wake of a shocking disclosure by the Kacharigaon Phevima Village Council on June 7, which claimed that RD officials have been systematically demanding “commissions” or “cuts” from the allocated MGNREGA funds. According to the village body, these unauthorized deductions have become a routine affair — pointing to what many believe is an organized and long-standing extortion racket within the department.
In an official statement, the NPCC expressed “deep outrage and concern,” calling the practice a blatant abuse of power. “What we are witnessing is the normalization of corruption within a crucial government department. MGNREGA was designed to empower the poorest of the poor — not to enrich officials through backdoor deals,” the Congress committee stated. The MGNREGA scheme plays a critical role in providing wage employment and building rural infrastructure, particularly in underdeveloped and tribal-dominated regions like Nagaland. Misappropriation of such funds, the Congress warned, directly undermines rural development, deepens existing inequality, and shakes public faith in welfare governance.
Highlighting the gravity of the situation, the NPCC called on the Nagaland government and the Hon’ble Minister of Rural Development to immediately launch an independent and transparent inquiry. “Accountability must be ensured. The money belongs to the people — not to corrupt intermediaries,” the party asserted. The Congress further demanded that strict disciplinary and legal action be taken against those found guilty, along with full restitution of the illegally withheld amounts. It also urged the government to implement robust checks and monitoring mechanisms to prevent further exploitation of public welfare schemes.
