GUWAHATI, Jan 18 — Disappointed with District Rural Development Agency’s (DRDA) failure in utilising the Central funds, the Union Minister of State for Rural Development, Sri Anna Saheb MK Patil has asked the Assam Government to utilise the funds by February next to get further instalments from the Centre. Addressing a press conference at Kahikuchi after ending a two-day visit to the State, Sri Patil said that the Centre has been providing funds regularly in order to accelerate the ongoing schemes, but most of the funds have remained unutilised affecting the schemes for the rural people. Giving statistics in this regard, the Union Minister revealed that the Centre had released Rs 75 crore during 2000/2001, of which the State Government could utilise only Rs 17.20 crore. Similarly under old age pension scheme, the State Government has spent only Rs 20.49 crore against Rs 26.25 crore, Minister said. In this context, he revealed that most of the schemes are yet to reach the people in Dibrugarh, Nalbari, Karimganj and Karbi Anglong due to failure of the State Government.
Throwing more light on the Anna Purna scheme, Sri Patil informed that the Centre had released Rs 5.77 crore under the scheme, but unfortunately, it is yet to be implemented. The Integrated Watershed Development Programme (IWDP) has suffered a serious setback as the State Government has spent only Rs two crore against the Central allocation of Rs 77.76 crore, the Union Minister said, adding that unlike Assam, States like Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Haryana are making fast progress in rural development sector with the help of Central funds.
Asked whether he was satisfied with the ongoing schemes under DRDA sector, he said ‘except some schemes of the State Institute of Rural Development (SIRD), the progress is not satisfactory and hence the State Government should monitor properly.’ He, however said that inspite of the poor performance and failure in utilising the funds, the Centre would not stop its share keeping the welfare of the rural people in view. Moreover, the Government of India has given top priority in the North Eastern States so that rural people can take advantage of the Central funds, he said, adding that funds meant for the rural people should be spent on them. It may be mentioned here that the Minister held a meeting with the officials of the DRDA and laid some guidelines for proper utilisation of the Central funds. The Minister is also learnt to have taken a serious note on the misappropriation of the Central funds released under different schemes.