NEW DELHI, Feb 4— The Rural Development Ministry has released funds to the tune of over Rs 37.51 crore under two schemes including drinking water scheme to Assam. A spokesman of the Ministry here this evening announced the decision to release Rs 21.72 crore to eight districts of Assam under the National Family Benefit Scheme (NFBS) during the current financial year (2001-2002). Of these, six districts including Karimganj (Rs. 25.89 lakh), Morigaon (Rs. 19.43 lakh), Nalbari (Rs. 32.38 lakh), Dibrugarh (Rs. 33.18 Lakh), Karbi Anglong (Rs. 24.29 lakh) and Tinsukia (Rs. 32.38 lakh) would be getting their first installment.
While two districts of Hailakandi (Rs. 17.99 lakh) and Jorhat (Rs. 31.36 lakh) would be getting the second installments under the same scheme. The spokesman further said that the Ministry has also released Rs 15.79 crore to Assam under the Rajiv Gandhi National Drinking Water Mission of Accelerated Rural Water Supply Programme (ARWSP) for the year 2001-2002. Of this Rs 1577.17 lakh is towards second installment of funds against the total allocation of Rs 7561 lakh for the year. And Rs 2.12 lakh released, towards monitoring and investigation units, under the scheme. The Ministry has also released Rs 2.54 lakh to Lohit district of Arunachal Pradesh under NFBS during the year 2001-2002.
It may be mentioned here that release of rural development funds to Assam was stalled during the year owing to inability of the State Government to bring in its matching share of 25 per cent. The Rural Development Ministry has now decided to examine the proposal of the North Eastern States to restructure the funding pattern of the Central Assistance slashing it to 90:10. Union Rural Development Minister, Venekhiah Naidu has hinted at the possibility of the Centre agreeing to the proposals and the next Budget may hold some good news in this front for the beleaguered State, he indicated, revealing that discussions were on with the Union Finance Ministry in this regard.