PRI members to air woes to PM
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, December 26 2021: Elected panchayat members have said that they would raise the delay in releasing fund for PRIs sanctioned by the Ministry of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj to the ministry concerned and the Prime Minister's office.

Addressing a press meet at the office premises of Manipur State Panchayat Parishad at Porompat DC office complex here on Sunday, Sagolband Sapam Leikai GP pradhan and Manipur State Panchayat Parishad executive member Athokpam Bishwarjit said that the government has failed to fulfil the demand raised by the Parishad despite protests and submission of memorandum.

The ministry sanctioned Rs 333",08,74,000 under MGNREGS for fiscal year 2021-22 on August 25, 2021 .

The state government released only Rs 110 crore before Ningol Chakkouba and kept the remaining Rs 233,08,74,000 pending.

As per the guidelines, the state government is supposed to release the fund to the implementing agencies within three days of receiving the amount.

Delay in releasing the fund affects the job card holders mainly and they are holding the elected representatives of Panchayats responsible for the delay, he said.

At the same time, the ministry is withholding sanctioning of further funds since the state government could not submit utilisation certificate in time.

On the other hand, Housing for All scheme is a useful scheme for ensuring a roof over the head of poor families but there are concerns regarding its judicious implementation in the state.

First instalment of Rs 48,000 has been credited to the beneficiaries' bank accounts in October 2020 while the second is yet to be released till date.

As a result, poor families are facing immense hardships as they are in no position to complete their constructions, he said.

PRIs also get central grant under the 15th Finance Commission in two instalments and Rs 44,25,00,00 had already been released as first instalment for both valley and hills.

Grant for basic and tied funds were also sanctioned on May 8 but the state government has not released these funds till date, he added.

Unless the state government releases the pending fund at the earliest, they will go and raise the matter with the Prime Minister's Office and ministry concerned soon, he added.

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