Authority's inefficiency delayed in utilising sanction amount for central sponsored scheme for soil health
"Agri Director Rajendro , instead of giving direct reply to the questioned enquired on where did we get the report"
Source: IT News

Imphal, June 01 2018: Around Rs.66 lakhs which was sanction for the state of Manipur through the state Agriculture department under a central sponsored scheme to enhance agriculture products by checking soil health still could not be withdrawn and utilised due to inefficiency of the department authority.

Source said loopholes in opening bank account for the said scheme as well as failure to register with the Public Financial Management System (PFMS) Portal, is the main reason for inability to utilise the sanction amount.

PFMS portal is an end-to- end solution for processing payments, tracking, monitoring, accounting, reconciliation and reporting.

It is implemented by Controller General of Accounts and administered by the Department of Expenditure, both in Ministry of Finance.

A source said that the sanction amount for the benefit of farmers will now be of no use as it cannot be utilised on time.

When Imphal Times contacted the Director of Agriculture regarding the matter, it is being clarified that there is no such thing as all procedures have been followed regarding the Soil testing Scheme.

Rajendro, Talking over phone to Imphal Times said that the file for sanctioning of the amount is now pending with the finance department and the delay is due to the ongoing cease work strike of the employees.

Chief Minister N.Biren Singh led government top priority as of now is to improve the condition of the farmers of the state by providing whatever assistances which are available with governments department.

The objective of the 'Go to Village' Mission is one initiative to reach out all villagers to their doors to provide assistance for better crop production and for providing other facilities.

Soil testing is one important component for improvement of the farmers.

As per source with the Imphal Times, the Director of the Agriculture department , Rajendro process the file for sanctioned of the amount but on May 5, 2017, the state finance department in its reply to the director stated that approval for sanctioning of the amount could not be given on the ground that the department did not open an account for PKVY/SHG/NMSA besides failing to register with the Public Financial Management System (PFMS) Portal which is mandatory for all central sponsored scheme.

The reply from the Finance department came on May 5 which is just 25 days from today, and the government employees cease work strike under the aegis of the JAC of AMGEO and AMTUC enters 72 days today.

Talking to Imphal Times today morning, the Director Rajendro , instead of giving direct reply to the questioned enquired on where did we get the report.

He said, every process for sanctioning of the amount has been completed and as soon as the JAC strike ended the fund will be released.

The director also hesitated to reveal the exact amount of money for the said scheme but on further query he said that it would be around Rs.60 lakhs.

June comes and till the amount is not released and rainy season will be began which again will not serve the schemes purpose.

Rajendro however said that soil testing is an undergoing project and the scheme is additional for the purpose.

But as per the Imphal Times source, the amount which remain pending due to lapses from the part of the Agriculture department is for procuring of some equipments for soil testing.

For the purpose the department have to invites supplier through proper channel.

And this will take time.

That showed that the sanction amount for soil testing for the year 2017-18 will be of no use to the state farmers.

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