Dimapur District Congress Committee raises concerns over gaps in Palna Scheme records furnished under RTI and seeks full disclosure of financial, procurement, recruitment and audit documents.
DIMAPUR — The Dimapur District Congress Committee (DCC) has expressed concern over what it termed “material gaps” in the records furnished by the Department of Social Welfare in response to an RTI concerning the implementation of the Palna Scheme under Mission Shakti.
In a press statement, the DCC said several records sought through the RTI had either not been furnished or had been provided only in summary form. It stated that while the documents disclosed substantial Government of India sanctions for the establishment and operationalisation of Anganwadi-cum-Crèches, the complete documentary trail required to independently verify the utilisation of public funds had not been adequately provided.
The DCC pointed out that the scheme’s financial requirements include maintenance of separate accounts, statements of expenditure, utilisation certificates and records subject to audit and inspection. However, it said the department’s reply had largely consisted of sanction orders and consolidated expenditure statements rather than underlying transaction records.
Among the major gaps highlighted by the DCC were complete centre-wise and month-wise bank transaction records, payment vouchers, UTR/PFMS details, cash books, ledgers and supporting financial documents.
On honorariums, the DCC said that although the department had provided the rates and periods of payment for crèche workers and helpers, as well as incentives for Anganwadi workers and helpers, complete worker-wise and month-wise transaction records had not been adequately furnished to reconcile the payments with the actual recipients.
The committee also raised questions over rent and grant-in-aid payments. It said sanction documents identified rent as a specific component of Palna funding, but complete centre-wise information on rented centres, landlords, rent or lease agreements, amounts paid, receipts and corresponding bank transactions had not been disclosed.
Regarding procurement, the DCC said lists of materials intended for various Anganwadi-cum-crèche centres had been furnished, but such lists alone could not establish whether the materials were procured and delivered.
It sought supplier details, quotations or tender records, supply orders, invoices, delivery challans, quantities received, stock-entry records and supplier-payment transactions.
The DCC further sought greater disclosure concerning recruitment. It said communications addressed to village and centre authorities indicated that vacancies had been advertised and filled through written or oral interviews, while recruitment procedures required a district-level selection committee.
However, it said complete selection proceedings, candidate-wise marks or evaluation records, committee minutes and other documents establishing the recruitment process had not been adequately disclosed.
The committee clarified that its observations should not at this stage be construed as allegations of misappropriation against any individual.
Rather, it said they represented questions arising from gaps between the information sought through the RTI and the records furnished by the department.
The DCC called upon the Department of Social Welfare and the Minister concerned to ensure the complete disclosure of all relevant records, including financial transactions, rent and grant-in-aid payments, procurement and supplier documents, stock and receipt records, recruitment proceedings, inspection reports, and audit and Utilisation records.
“Public welfare schemes meant for children, mothers, Anganwadi beneficiaries and workers must be administered with the highest degree of transparency and accountability,” the DCC stated.
The committee said it hoped the department and the minister would respond positively and facilitate complete disclosure.
It warned that, failing this, the DCC would pursue appropriate legal remedies available under the RTI Act and other applicable laws, besides peaceful and democratic means, to seek transparency and accountability in the utilisation of public funds.