Dimapur, Oct. 7 (EMN): The Nagaland Public Rights Awareness and Action Forum (NPRAAF) has questioned the state government’s profligacy while dealing with fund received from the central government for MGNREGA schemes.
The NPRAAF issued a press release on Saturday expressing shock at what it pointed out was the state government’s act to increase “liabilities” for implementation of MGNREGA in Nagaland by more than 100%.
“What is shocking here is when the GoI sanctioned Rs. 501.51 crore for 2016-17, how can liabilities for the same financial year be Rs. 597.68 crore which is more than 100% of the sanctioned amount for implementation of MGNREGA.
“The GoI also sanctioned Rs. 5 crore (26 May 2017) for implementation of MGNREGA for 2017-18. It is yet to be known whether the FD has released the amount or not. Another amount of Rs. 69.99 crore (23 August 2017) was sanctioned by GoI towards ‘wages and material and admin cost for implementation of MGNREGA for 2017-18’,” it stated.
Citing allegations of financial irregularities levelled by RD blocks including Medziphema and Chumukedima “regarding blank cheques and deductions and numerous complaints from the public”, the NPRAAF stated that those charges “speak volume” about the possibility of a bigger financial mismanagement in the central scheme.
“In view of such adverse reports and irregularities, the Rural Development department is urged to reveal the details in public domain through all the local newspapers as regards the release of funds for material and labour component in district wise, block wise and village wise and then provide the total amount. Since there is widespread public misgiving about the transparent distribution of MGNREGA funds, the RD is urged to publish these complete details in the local dailies the cost of which should be borne by it or the state government.
“Such publication of information will facilitate the public to know the actual amount released to their village and the amount they received. This is a simple step that could be taken by the RD to exhibit transparent utilization and disbursement of central funds instead of claiming that the funds are reaching the grassroots people who are complaining about not getting their due share.”
Refusal to provide the details in public domain, as demanded, would compel the NPRAAF to “approach appropriate authority” seeking CBI enquiry into the RD department’s functioning, it warned.
“RD is not the only department involved in such irregularities but many other departments, in collaboration with the state FD, are actively involved in mismanagement of hundreds of crore of rupees as published in local dailies from time to time by different NGOs and individuals.
“NPRAAF also urges the governor of the state and centre to take note of such issues and take necessary steps in this regard as the financial mismanagement by the Nagaland government in various departments is likely to run into thousands of crore of rupees meant for the public.”
