Department of Rural Development clarifies Zeliang’s doubt

NDPP says no funds have been misused under any circumstances Dimapur, Jan. 6 (EMN): The department of Rural Development Nagaland has clarified the question raised by Leader of Opposition T.R. Zeliang on the delay in release of INR 96 crore grant-in-aid fund to the village development board (VDB), saying that there is certain procedure to be followed before such schemes are allotted to the concerned beneficiaries. The department of Rural Development has said in a statement that as per the VDB Model Rules 1980, the boards have to formulate its own schemes and submit to the Block once the department makes allocation. After satisfying all procedures and formalities, the Block will tender a full report to the DP&DB/SDP&DB for deliberation and approval. It said the Block will prepare technical estimates and submit to the directorate along with the utilization certificates, audit reports and VDB welfare fund fixed deposit of the last release after receiving clearance from the DP&DB. At the directorate level, the engineering wing will scrutinise the technical estimates and forward for approval, and once approved, the directorate will prepare send demand draft to the Deputy Commissioner, who is also the Chairman VDB. The department of Rural Development stated that the release of fund to the VDBs is subject to the certain procedure and added that it cannot be misused as the DPDB is responsible for all implementation of the VDB schemes. It said that the blocks under Peren and Dimapur districts and some blocks under Mon have been cleared, while the remaining blocks are yet to complete the required formalities. The statement issued by director of Rural Development department Imlimeren Jamir also clarified that “release of INR 96 crore was meant for the restoration of backlogs for the year 2014-15, 2015-16 and 2017-18.” It also clarified that the criteria for household allocation is: a) 0 - 66 household, a lumpsum of INR 66,000, and b) 67 and above household at INR 1000 per household. The NDPP has also termed the allegations made by the Leader of Opposition on funds related to the RD department as “wild and false” and “what he stated is only his imagination and holds no truth.” “The PDA assures the people of Nagaland, especially the rural population and the farmers that the present government will take every possible step to ensure that every citizen of the State will get that is rightfully due. No funds have been misused under any circumstances and the allegation of the Leader of Opposition lacks factual authenticity. It is completely politically motivated,” said NDPP. “We assure the people that we will not run the affairs of the State like it prevailed during the previous governments under the NPF regime where corruption was the order of the day,” it added. Former CM Zeliang had on Saturday questioned the PDA government on the delay in the release of the INR 96 crore grant-in-aid fund that had been approved by the high-level committee (HLC) last year.