Francis exonerates
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, May 02 2015 :
There is no case of delay or dislocation or misappropriation of fund sanctioned under MGNREGS, asserted Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Minister Francis Ngajokpa.
Speaking to media persons at his Secretariat office this afternoon, Francis Ngajokpa rejected the allegations raised by the All Tribal Chiefs Forum (ATCF) .
For the financial year 2014-15, labour budget for MGNREGS sanctioned to the State by the Ministry of Rural Development was Rs 255.75 crore.
Out of this sanctioned amount, Rs 219.97 crore has been released till March this year.
By adding State share of Rs 50 crore, a total amount of Rs 269.97 crore was deposited in the State Employment Guarantee Fund (SEGF) .
The same amount has been released to district programme coordinators of the nine districts after setting aside Rs 1.44 crore for the State Monitoring Cell and the Manipur Social Audit Agency, Francis Ngajokpa stated.
Since 2013-14, the Ministry of Rural Development started released MGNREGS funds through the State Government.
The State Government then distributed the money to districts, blocks and villages.
The same system is now applied in other schemes taken up by other departments/ministries.
Earlier, MGNREGS funds were released directly to district administrations.
In case the State Government fails to release MGNREGS funds to relevant subordinate authorities within two days after the same funds are released by the Ministry, the Ministry charges 12 per cent interest per day.
Funds sanctioned for MGNREGS for this financial year is quite low and this is not only for Manipur but also for all States.
As a result, the number of working days under the same scheme has been reduced drastically.
There is no delay or discrepancies in releasing MGNREGS funds.
As such calling bandh and making an issue out of nothing is quite uncalled for, Francis Ngajokpa added.