Dimapur: ACAUT Convener RTI Cell, Dr. Kekhugha Murru today stated that, “75% of the money sanctioned for our state disappears due to corruption and only 25% is left for development.” Speaking strongly against corruption, Dr. Kekhugha Murru said, “Forget about Rs. 2000 crores budget even if Central government sanctions Rs. 2 lakh crores budget, Nagaland will always say it is too less.”
Addressing an awareness drive held at Dimapur Government College, he said that corruption is so high that it is affecting the MNREGA Scheme. “The 100 days wage meant for poor villagers are being misused and siphoned off by the concerned government department. Villagers are getting only 30-40 days of employment when in reality they should be getting 100 days of employment under the scheme,” he said.
“Central schemes for the poor or economically backward, educated unemployed, etc are not reaching the targeted people. Favoritism and nepotism are a huge stumbling block,” he added. He also spoke out against “random backdoor appointments.”
Further, he alleged that “even in Food and Civil Supply, the food items are not reaching the beneficiaries. Kerosene provided at subsidized rate is not reaching the beneficiaries but instead it is being diverted for fuel adulteration and is also being sold at open market at Rs. 60-80 per litre.”
ACAUT Nagaland visited Dimapur Government College on April 17 in continuation of its awareness drive. ACAUT Liaison convener, Simon Kelio, chaired the programme. Joel Nillo Kath, ACAUT Vice-Chairman dwelled on the history and formation of ACAUT Nagaland and on taxation issue and explained the ACAUT Resolution of “One Government, One Tax”.
ACAUT Nagaland pledge to fight corruption was led by Tia Longchar. The call to take the pledge is purely voluntary. As the call was made, everyone present in the College Hall stood up and took the pledge keeping their right hands on their hearts.
An interactive session followed where difficult questions such as “Is ACAUT another Aam Admi party in the making?”, “What corrupted means did ACAUT conveners involve in before joining the movement and how ACAUT has changed them” were some few asked by the faculty members and students. The programme ended with the song “We shall overcome” led by an ACAUT Convener. Light refreshment followed where more interactions took place.
ACAUT Nagaland informs the Principals and administrations of different colleges that if they are interested in this awareness drive and wants the ACAUT team to visit their colleges they can contact the Public Mobilization Convener, Tia Longchar, Mobile no.9863144588. This was stated in a press release issued by ACAUT Media Cell.
