Imphal, May 23: With the State Govt failing to submit the account statement of the "Udisha project" undertaken by the State Social Welfare Dept for imparting training to Anganwadi workers in the State, the Centre is likely to dissolve the project even before the completion of the time frame given for implementing the project.

The project is taken up by the State Welfare Dept under the Union Human Resource Development with funding from the World Bank.

According to reports reports received by The Sangai Express, officials of the Union Human Resource Development have intimated the State Govt that all fundings for the Udisha project would be halted if the State Govt does not submit the necessary account statement of the funds incurred in implementing the project till date.

The time frame given by the Central Govt for completing the project is June 2006.Informing that the Central Govt had been providing funds for the project in phases since 2000 when the project was first initiated in the State, reports said that apprehensions have been raised over the nature in which the funds have been utilised as reports have streamed in alleging that nearly Rs 15 lakhs have been siphoned off in the name of imparting training to the Anganwadi trainees.

It may be noted here that the Social Welfare Dept had sanctioned Rs 33,000 each for training every 55 Anganwadi workers.

If the Central Govt decides to dissolve the project this year ahead of its actual time frame which falls in June 2006, nearly 1000 Angawadi workers will be denied of the training programmes under the project, added the report.

Talking to this reporter, Social Welfare Department Secretary L Lakher clarified that the Central Govt had not sent any intimation on the matter and added that the State Govt had been submitting all the necessary account statements of the funds incurred in implementing the project.

He also said that a proposal for extending the time frame for completing the project has been intimated to the Central Govt and now it is up to the Central Govt to intimate the World Bank authorities on the matter.

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