Seven Govt Depts to exist in name only
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, May 19 2013: With the State Government allocating a meager amount of fund for Agriculture and Allied Activities under the sectoral allocation for the fiscal year 2013-14, the Union Ministry of Agriculture has decided to reduce the funds sanctioned under Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) to half the normal amount.

Owing to the faulty decision of the State Government over its sectoral allocation for this financial year, seven State Government Departments, which are being run with financial assistance from the Union Ministry of Agriculture and Corporation will also remain to exist in name only and all the developmental programmes for farmers in the State will cease for this year.

According to a highly reliable source, the Agriculture and Allied Activities has received an amount of Rs 22.87 crores under the State Government's Sectoral Plan Allocation for this fiscal year.

Since it is only 12% of the total State Plan, it would have an impact on the implementation of RKVY scheme under which seven different departments of the State Government are involved.

The seven departments are Horticulture and Soil Conservation, Agriculture, Veterinary, Fishery, Corporation, Sericulture and Forest Department.

The source further revealed that there were more than 90 schemes under the Ministry of Agriculture and Corporation.

From this, 60 of the schemes were subsequently absorbed under RKVY scheme.

The Micro Management which provided farming materials and equipments to the farmers was also abolished in the month of March last year.

The only scheme remaining at present is the RKVY scheme and Food Security Mission.

Though the State Government applied for sanctioning an amount of Rs 100 crores under RKVY scheme, the officials of the Ministry of Agriculture and Allied Activities refused to sanction not more than Rs 23 crores as against 53 crores during the previous fiscal year on the ground that the State Budget allocation on this sector is very small.

The sanctioned amount on being circulated among the seven government departments will receive around Rs 3 crores each for a year.

As such, the RKVY scheme under which seven government departments are involved will be implemented in the State in name only.

This is all because of the fault made by the State Government while allocating the plan amount.

Had the Government sanctioned more funds to Agriculture and Allied Activities, the Central Government would have sanctioned enough fund for its smooth functioning, the source added.

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