KOHIMA: The Naga People’s Front has alleged brazen favouritism of the PDA Government in Nagaland and vehemently condemned the shameless act of depriving the villagers their due share of funds from the Centre.
NPF-led DAN Government under former Chief Minister, TR Zeliang ensured the release of Rs. 285 Crs under MNREGA by Government of India, but the same could not be released to the Village Development Boards due to Election Model Code of Conduct. The Opposition party said Chief Minister, Neiphiu Rio has misused the Central Fund by deducting high percentage instead of disbursing it to the VDBs for development.
To add to the sorry state of affairs, the new Principal Secretary of RD, Abeio Kire is implementing MNREGA program at his own whim and fancies due to which the Department and VDBs are facing severe difficulties, the party said.
Out of the total amount of Rs. 285 Crs, PDA Government has released Rs. 140 Crs to the VDBs just recently.
From the present release, Dimapur District has been allocated Rs. 13,24,11,351 out of which the normal total allocation for VDB, Nagarjan (Kuda) Village is Rs. 10,73,800 for implementation of VDB schemes under MNREGA.
But apart from this, the Principal Secretary, Rural development through his own discretion has allocated an additional amount of Rs. 1, 45,00,000 to his own village, Nagarjan (Kuda) Village taking the total amount to Rs. 1, 55,71,800.
As per information received from the officials of RD department, no officers dare to question the Principal Secretary lest they face unwanted consequences.
One wonders as to who has delegated financial power to the Principal Secretary, RD to allocate such huge amount to a single village! And if this much is given to a single village what will be the fate of more than 200 villages in Dimapur District?
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