Pradhans apprehensive funds may be blocked
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, May 29 2018:
Pradhans of Imphal West Gram Panchayats have expressed strong apprehension about the next instalment of funds being frozen by the Ministries concerned of the Government of India because of holding back funds by the State Government.
Speaking to media persons at Manipur Press Club here today, Sagolband Sapam Leikai GP Pradhan A Bishorjit said on behalf of 39 Pradhans of Imphal West district the Ministry of Rural Development sanctioned Rs 115.04 crore to the State on April 29 this year for MGNREGS.
As per instructions of the Ministry, the same amount should be released within three days of receiving it together with the State's matching share and pay out all pending liabilities.
Pending liabilities include wages, material costs and administration charges but the State Government is yet to release any fund, Bishorjit said.
In case the State Government fails to release the sanctioned amount within three days, the State Government should pay 12 per cent interest for the number of days delayed, according to the Ministry's instruction.
The Ministry usually sanctions funds four times in a year or every three months.
The MGNREGS amount currently held back by the State Government is for April to June.
Until and unless, utilisation certificate for this amount is submitted, the Ministry would not sanction any money for the next three years, said the Pradhan.
Under the Pradhan Mantri Awaz Yojana, Rs 48,000 and Rs 50,000 have been given to each beneficiary through DBT in two phases for construction of houses.
Under the same scheme, each beneficiary is entitled to Rs 1.30 lakh.
However, the houses could not be completed as no further fund has been released, he said.
The State Government's Go to Village mission and Go to Hills mission seem meaningless when it is not releasing funds sanctioned by the Central Government for several flagship programmes, he remarked.
He also urged the State Government to release all necessary funds at the earliest.