NE States fail to utilise funds for Central schemes

SILCHAR, February 27: The Centre is often accused of neglecting the Northeast and even of being discriminatory in releasing of funds for development projects. But, according to a document of the Ministry of Home Affairs, Northeast States are themselves to blame for creating logjam on utilization of huge Central funds due mainly to their slipshod approach, non-submission of proposals and non-adherence to financial norms. During 1999-2000, Assam was granted Rs 3606.83 lakh for rural development schemes including three special muga, eri silk and mushroom projects. Assam could utilise a meagre 10 per cent of the fund allocated. What is more the Centre is yet to be apprised of the status of implementation of special projects. Release of second instalment of fund to 10 DRDAs in Arunachal Pradesh to the tune of Rs 44.60 lakh was held up due to very slow progress. The State could not implement the innovative ginger dehydration project with Central fund of Rs 18.80 lakh, although Rs 9.40 lakh was released. The State of Manipur was pulled up for not furnishing any progress report on the implementation of rural development programmes since May, 1999. The first instalment of Rs 328 lakh in the current year has not been released to any DRDA in the State due to non-submission of proposals and tardy progress. DRDAs in Meghalaya too have not been eligible to get the first instalment of the current allotment of Rs 367.49 lakh. In respect of Mizoram, the Home Ministry document notes that the physical achievement during the last financial year has not been satisfactory due to diversion of major portion of Swarnajayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana (SGSY) funds for DRDA administration. The tale of Meghalaya is not any different which has been found to be very slow in utilization of funds and indifferent on its monitoring and it is on these counts that DRDAs have failed to get current Central allocation of Rs 252.08 lakh. The three DRDAs in Tripura have also failed to claim the first instalment of Rs 233.04 lakh due to non-submission of audit reports. The State has not furnished any progress report. SGSY, IRDP, TRYSEM and other employment generation schemes have not been able to make headway in the Northeast despite liberal assistance from the Centre, often condoning the general conditions and financial norms. According to the document, the total Central transfer of funds in 1998-99 alone was Rs 12,371 crore. Previous year, the Prime Minister had initiated development programmes to the tune of Rs 10,390 crore. These funds are more than sufficient to provide socio-economic benefits to the people of the region. Crores of rupees meant for development programmes routinely disappear. There is no accountability and great offence is taken if State Governments are asked to explain how Central funds are spent. Common people feel the Centre should closely monitor the flow of funds and their utilization and even suspend funds to those States of the region which fail to come clean or maintain transparency.