Dimapur, July 3 : Nagaland Public Rights Awareness and Action Forum (NPRAAF) has detected anomalies in the distribution of Grant-in-Aid (GIA) under Social Welfare Department to various organizations for the year 2015-16 in Dimapur.
They are voluntary organizations dealing with Children Homes under Non-Plan; with Children Homes under Plan; Old Age Homes and Drug Abuse.
As per RTI response furnished to NPRAAF by the Social Welfare Department and on physical verification by NPRAAF to the beneficiaries, it was found that two bodies in the government were deducting Rs 5000 each from most of the beneficiaries while the amounts were not deducted in the case of some beneficiaries. Surprisingly, the deducted amounts were also added into the amount of GIA and shown as given to the beneficiaries, which mean that the beneficiaries got Rs 10, 000 lesser than what has been actually shown in the RTI document. NPRAAF found out this anomaly during physical verification of children homes and societies.
Information and Publicity Cell, NPRAAF in a press note said, one children home expressed surprise that it was also shown as a beneficiary of Rs 80, 000 in the RTI document.
“Thereafter only, the particular children home went and claimed the amount from the department. However, a representative of that children home was initially threatened of withholding the amount if the children home was connected with filing of RTI in the department.”
Despite huge efforts by NPRAAF to locate some children homes and societies which were shown as recipients of GIA, it could not be located thus giving rise to doubt the existence such organizations.
This doubt gained weightage when NPRAAF found that a particular organization was shown as a recipient of two different GIAs under Children Homes and Old Age Homes.
“While the existence of the children home was verified, the Old Age Home under the name of the same organization was non-existent. It was learnt that the organization occasionally invites aged persons and distributes blankets and other materials to them. There is no physical home for Old Age people under the name of that organization shown as a beneficiary.”
NPRAAF expressed surprise that office expenses of Rs 50, 000 was shown under the list of GIA for Children Homes under Non-Plan during 2015-16. “Such office expenses were never known and shown under any scheme or financial year, Plan or Non-Plan.”
“Besides physically verifying in Dimapur for the year 2015-16, NPRAAF also made telephonic calls to beneficiaries in other districts regarding GIA during different years. Several more homes denied receiving any GIA as shown in RTI document.”
“Further, a certain individual was shown as a recipient of a certain amount during 2013-14 under Drug Abuse scheme. In the RTI reply, it was clearly mentioned that GIAs were given to “Voluntary Organizations” and nothing mentioned about eligibility for individuals to avail such benefits even though eligibility criteria was asked in the RTI application for availing such schemes. The only eligibility criteria it mentioned was that the organization has to be registered with the Government. Till date, there has not been any instance where an individual got registered with the Government.”
The NPRAAF demanded the Social Welfare Department to distribute GIA to all those organizations which have been mentioned as beneficiaries but in reality have not received such funds.
NPRAAF also demanded the department to strike out the names of non-existent organizations shown as beneficiaries and utilize the resultant funds in an appropriate manner and that preferential treatments to individuals be immediately stopped and the released amount to the particular individual be recalled for proper utilization.
NPRAAF said, all officers and staff responsible for anomalies and irregularities be made accountable and appropriate action be taken against them.
NPRAAF warned that it will take necessary steps to ensure justice to the deprived organizations, in the event of failure to meet the demand within a month from the date of issue of the press release.
