Kohima Sep. 20 (EMN): Addressing the second session of the 13th Nagaland Legislative Assembly, the leader of the treasury bench and chief minister, Neiphiu Rio, has clarified that no fund has been received so far from the National Disaster Relief Find (NDRF) for 2018-19.
The chief minister clarified following reports that information claiming that funds were received from the Centre as relief is being circulated on social media. He stated that the amount of Rs 65.26 cr., which was received on July 14 2018 as NDRF was for the year 2017-18 after assessment by the IMCT team in the month of April 2018.
He mentioned that the IMCT team had visited the state from Sep. 4 to the 7th this year. Based on their report, the government of India will release the due funds from the NDRF. He added that relief operations were being carried out through the funds that are available with the state at present.
He made a special mention of Sushant Singh Rajput, a Bollywood actor, who travelled all the way to Dimapur and handed over a cheque for Rs 1.25 cr. for the CM’s relief fund.
He thanked M/s AirPay who set up the online portal for contributions to CM relief fund through various channels without charging any fee for online transactions. Almost 4,857 people contributed through this channel a total of Rs 48.17 lakh, he added.
Likewise, the chief minister thanked PayTM, which set up a gateway for contributions to the relief fund, through their platform. He said almost 34,803 people contributed funds amounting to Rs 53.41 lakh. He thanked PayTM for matching the amount by making an equal contribution from their side.
"Over and above this, we have also got contributions of almost Rs 108.11 lakh directly to our bank account," he said. He shared his appreciation of the humanitarian gesture of Roijita Abujam too – a New York resident who raised and donated USD 2, 400, which is about INR 1,67,000, in the Bank account of the Kiphire deputy commissioner.
Speaking of gratefulness to the People's Democratic Alliance (PDA) legislators, who contributed a month's salary, besides contribution from party officials, he thanked government employees; and organisations, associations, corporate entities and all other donors who contributed in cash and kind. He added that funds amounting to INR 79.52 lakh have been received as contribution.
Thanking also the Naga People Front legislators who volunteered to contribute to the chief secretary’s welfare fund, he remarked that the particular fund was primarily for the welfare of government employees in distress. Nevertheless, he appreciated them and called upon them to join the efforts of the government and the people in mitigating the hardship being faced by the people.
Concluding his speech, Rio said that the state’s government had decided to set up a committee from the additional chief secretary and Finance commissioner for judicious use of the funds. He said that the government had decided to launch a mass social work for restoration works on damaged infrastructure and to improve drainage, culverts and roads from September 29 to October 2 in all districts and additional deputy commissioner headquarters to coincide with the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.
Leader of Opposition TR Zeliang put up a starred question to Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio to state the total fiscal deficit (RBI) reconciled figure for 2013-14 to 2017-2018. Budget reconciliation is the process of reviewing transactions and supporting documentation, and resolving any discrepancies that are discovered.
Rio, who holds the finance portfolio, also, replied that there was no RBI reconciled fiscal deficit figure. He furnished the details of the year-wise fiscal deficit as reflected in the state budget documents for the years 2013-14 to 2017-18. (See table)
