ATMA funds misappropriated? Serious allegations raised over fund utilisation
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, March 22 2015: A serious Allegation has been raised about misappropriation of funds sanctioned by the Government of India and the State Giovernment against the State Agricultural Mission Extension Training Institute (S A M ETI) under Agriculture technology Management Agency (ATMA) for different agriculture extension activities mid payment of salaries to employees appointed on deputation and contract basis.The total amount sanctioned for different agricultural activities and payment of salaries for employees appointed on deputation and contract basis for 2015-15 is Rs 372,39,780, informed a well placed source.Out of this total sanctioned amount, the Government of India released Rs 267,57,000 on April 13, 2014 vide letter no 36/24/2014-AE/Exten-sion The State matching share was released in two phases Rs 7000,000 was released in the first phase and Rs 34, 82,780 in the second phase.The amount of Rs 7000,000 was withdrawn from Government account no 8449 on December 2, 2014 .

The corresponding Bill no.was 131/Ad dt 25/11/2014 .

The second amount of Rs 34,82,780 was withdrawn from the Treasury on December 31, 2014 against the Bill no.163 dt 27/12/2014.According to guidelines, agricultural activities for which the total amount was sanctioned should be executed under SAMETI at the State level and under Project Directors at the district level.The total amount should be transferred electronically to the account of SAMETI Director and bank accounts of Project Directors in order to execute the listed agricultural activities at the State level and district level respectively.Salaries of employees appointed on deputation and contract basis should be transferred to their respective bank accounts.An office memorandum issued by the Finance Department on April 18, 1999 categorically laid down that salaries of employees should be transferred to their respective bank accounts.Notwithstanding the officememorandum, the then SAMETI Director withdrew and handed over the amount to the State coordinator on January 28, 2015 who was appointed on contract basis.The Director retired from service on January 31, 2015.There is another rule which says that no public money should be entrusted to any employee appointed on contract basis.In spite of this rule and the Finance Department's office memorandum, salaries of contract employees were distributed directly without any knowledge of the controlling officer and duty certificate.

A number of agriculture extension activities such as training, demonstration, exposure visit, district level exhibitions, printing of leaflets and district-level farmers-scientists interaction programmes were conducted in piecemeal and half-cooked manner, informed a well placed source.Out of this total sanctioned amount, the Government of India released Rs 267,57,000 on April 13, 2014 vide letter no.36/24/2014-AE/Extension.The State matching share was released in two phases.

Rs 7000,000 was released in the first phase and Rs 34,82,780 in the second phase.

The amount of Rs 7000,000 was withdrawn from Government account no 8449 on December 2, 2014 .

The corresponding Bill no.was 131/Ad dt 25/11/2014 .

The second amount of Rs 34,82,780 was withdrawn from the Treasury on December 31, 2014 against the Bill no.163 dt 27/12/2014 .

According to guidelines, agricultural activities for which the total, amount was sanctioned should be executed under SAMETI at the State level and under Project Directors at the district level.

The total amount should be transferred electronically to the account of SAMETI Director and bank accounts of Project Directors in order to execute the listed agricultural activities at the State level and district level respectively.

Salaries of employees appointed on deputation and contract basis should be transferred to their respective bank accounts.

An memorandum issued by the Finance Department on April 18, 1999 categorically laid down that salaries of employees should be transferred to their respective bank accounts.

Notwithstanding the office memorandum, the then SAMETI Director withdrew and handed over the amount to the State coordinator on January 28, 2015 who was appointed on contract basis.

The Director retired from service on January 31, 2015.There is another rule which says that no public money should be entrusted to any employee appointed on contract basis.

In spite of this rule and the Finance Department's office memorandum, salaries of contract employees were distributed directly without any knowledge of the controlling officer and duty certificate.

A number of agriculture extension activities such as training, demonstration, exposure visit, district level exhibitions, printing of leaflets and district-level farmers-sci-entists interaction programmes were conduct ed in piecemeal and half-cooked manner.

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