Kohima, July 30 (MExN): The Directorate of Social Welfare (DoSW) of the Government of Nagaland has stated that if any staff in the department is found “indulging in illegal practices,” then the DoSW will “initiate disciplinary action against the erring officials/ staff.”
The Director of DoSW, T Merangtsungba Aier, stated this in a rejoinder to the Nagaland Public Rights Awareness and Action Forum (NPRAAF) today in response to the latter’s “allegations” leveled against the DoSW on July 4 last.
“No deductions in any form have been made at source by the Department. And if any staffs are found indulging in such illegal practices the Department will initiate disciplinary action against the erring officials/ staff,” said the Director.
He further asserted that under the RTI Act, every Department is mandated to disclose information. “The Department has so far been complying. If there are such instances/ cases where disclosures has been denied individuals/ group may take it up with competent authority with supportive proof,” he said.
The DoSW also clarified that all registered NGOs seeking Grant-in-Aid (GIA) are “verified” through the District Welfare Offices and “basing on their verification” the State Level Selection Committee for GIA “recommends their inclusion” for receiving the GIA.
Some registered NGOs, the rejoinder noted, are maintaining multiple homes and “if the State Level Selection Committee finds them befitting and deserving of GIA then only the Grant is provided to the NGOs under multiple Schemes.” For instance, the DoSW informed, Ebenezer is maintaining a children Home as well as an Old Age Home in Dimapur, and Caring Neighbour Ministry is maintaining an Old Age Home in Mokokchung and a Children Home in Dimapur.
“For Implementation of any Central/ State Programmes 3% of the total project cost is permissible for Administrative Expenditure. Setting aside Rs.50,000/- for Office Expenses come up to only 1.1% of the total amount GIA released. Therefore, earmarking the amount for such expenses should not be issue,” stated the Director of DoSW.
No GIA is withheld by the Department, he noted, and “pending payments if any is due to the NGO’s not coming forward to claim the GIA.”
The DoSW further clarified that the amount of Rs.5,00,000/- (rupees five lakh) available under State Plan during 2013-14 was “primarily earmarked for prevention and rehabilitation of drug abuse not confining to voluntary organizations alone.”
“On the recommendation of the National Commission for protection of Child Rights, the State Level Selection Committee had duly endorsed the recommendation made to an individual whose case was deserving and befitting. The Department is of the view that withholding such relief to a deserving individual should be going against the moral ethics,” the DoSW maintained.
