DIMAPUR, DECEMBER 2 (MExN): The Nagaland Voluntary Consumers’ Organization (NVCO) has urged the Deputy Commissioner (DC), Kohima to revoke the nullification of joint signatures of the Village Council Chairman (VCC) and Village Development Board (VDB) Secretary on cheques for VDB withdrawals vide Order No. SDR/DCK/VC/42/2011 (Pt-1)// 2282 dated Kohima, April 2016.
Press & Media Cell, NVCO in a press statement maintained that the main purpose of providing funds to the village level is for the enhancement of livelihood security of the people and to develop rural areas with the expectancy of transparency in financial management.
As such, any financial management carried out without the knowledge of the village council would be “unreasonable functioning” in running the village affairs. Instances of mismanagement of village funds in villages in Kohima district have emerged due to the lack of check and balance system in the village, it pointed out.
The NVCO therefore stressed that the role of village council is indispensable in operating bank account, jointly by VDB Secretary and VCC.
It mentioned that the DC, Kohima vide Order dated April 2016 had nullified the normal practice of joint signature of the VCC and VDB Secretary in operating bank account of the village fund by referring the provisions of Para 15 of the preamble and Section 9 of the VDB Model Rules of 1980.
The VCCs of Kohima District in response to the said order, in a representation addressed to the Chief Secretary, had stated that the aforesaid order is illegal as VDB Model Rules, 1980 has been modified and stand amended by Notification dated 21st November 1989 issued by the Department of Rural Development, Nagaland.
The relevant provision under the revised Model Rules states, “The VDB shall operates its funds under Grant-in-Aid, Matching Cash Grant, Jawahar Rozgar Yojana and other programmes through suitable accounts shall be operated jointly by the Chairman and Secretary of the Management Committee of the VDB.”
Considering the facts and circumstances of the present matter, the NVCO has asked the concerned authority to examine the aforesaid order issued by the DC, Kohima which it termed as “illegal” and required to be revoked instantly.
.JPG)
