Odishatv Bureau

Jajpur: BJD MLA from Binjharpur Pramila Mallick has landed in controversy after her father and brothers were found holding job cards under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA).

According to reports, father of the legislator Paban Mallick, brothers Khirod Mallick and Keshab Mallick, all residents of Masada Panchayat in Binjharpur block of Jajpur district, are holding the job cards since 2010.

It is alleged that they have also received wages as labourers in the financial year 2016-17 under the 'Mo Pokhari' project.

Other than this, Binjharpur block chairman Nanda Kishore Samal is also alleged to have been included as a daily wage labourer under the scheme, as a result of which the locals are sensing a major fraud in the MGNREGA scheme implementation in the area.

"There are job cards in name of the legislator's father and brothers and the block chairman Nanda Kishore Samal has also obtained a job card. Therefore, the corruption could be rooted deep," said a local resident Dhaneswar Das.

"The cost of 'Mo Pokhari' project is Rs 50,000. While Paban Mallick has expired his sons are there. His son Keshab Mallick had received payment last year," said Executive Engineer, Binjharpur, Ranjan Kumar Samal.

Following allegations, BJP's Zilla Parishad member Sraban Kumar Jena termed it a major scam, while former OPCC president Niranjan Patnaik said the administration should conduct a probe and take immediate action.

"There are names of Pramila Mallick's father and brothers and the residents of Binjharpur know about it. The BJD is involved in corruption through its various schemes like 'Mo Pokhari' and 'Mo Kudia' and the legislator is also involved in it," said Jena.

"I would term it as unfortunate and it is a big problem as there are people in Odisha who are still deprived of such cards. If the allegations are true there should be a probe," said Patnaik.

On the other hand MLA Mallick has accepted that her brother Keshab Mallick holds a job card but denied the allegations against her father and another brother Khirod Mallick. She even said that she is ready for any kind of probe.

"Let them conduct an inquiry into the allegations. My brother is a farmer and he only holds a job card and no other member of my family has such card. It is an effort to malign my image and people will give a befitting reply," said the MLA.

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