Kohima, March 19 (MExN): Nagaland State Government’s Budget 2016 is a “new hope for corruption” stated Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC) President, K. Therie, in a press release today.
Noting that the budget is “bereft of any fiscal policy to produce, distribute or control,” he said it showed no “sign of reformation” and had no welfare programs.
“Health, farmers, youth employment and price rise are all ignored. There is no policy to control corruption. The Budget does not talk about either the welfare of BPL families or the living conditions of the people. The budget reflects that the State will continue to remain stagnant in developmental activities, while roads and created infrastructure will continue to remain as it is,” the NPCC President lamented.
Passing Rs. 13, 645 Crores “without opposition; all with a vision of raiding and sharing the spoils of power, leaves no hope for the public,” he stated.
Assuming that “it is only for corruption” that the 2016 budget has been “lost in the name public service,” Therie stated that it is because of “deficit and hoarding in civil deposit, they are able to pay even 50% or more commission. The Budget is a new hope for renewed corruption.”
He stated that the Rs.1265 Crore from last year’s award in the Non-plan is “only a normal increase.” Noting that deficit figures have been “hovering over” Rs. 1400 Crore for years, the NPCC President stated that “We do not see enough reason why this should be since the 6th ROP was fully covered by a grant of Rs. 712 Crore of special non-plan assistance with additional plan assistance of Rs. 326 Crore during UPA Govt in 2010 but there has been no developmental work in the State. There are also serious doubts with Civil Deposits which are drawn against work orders that are under progress. Drawing in the name of CDs without actual cash availability is a betrayal of trust and will effect cash out-go during the Current Financial Year.”
The State Plan is indicated at Rs. 3924.47 Crore with hardly Rs.580 Crore in the divisible pool for all Departmental plan activities. The remaining are Centrally Sponsored Scheme-earmarked programs (Rs.3344.47 Crore). Observing that “this is an improvement” from last year, K Therie, however, maintained that the small plan fund will be “misused in LADF and additional selective payments.”
“Achieving Centrally Sponsored Schemes will depend on timely release of funds and submission of utilization reports,” he said.
The State Government, the NPCC informed, has “failed to bring out a works program since the beginning of 2013.” “It is now several years that the offices have been complaining of lack of funds. The 14thFinance Commission has fully covered non-plan and therefore there is no question of deficit. How come there is Civil Deposits when there is no works program and nothing is happening on the ground? Pending bills of genuine contractors and suppliers may amount to some few hundred crores but not in terms of over 2000 crores (Deficit + Civil Deposits),” the NPCC iterated.
According to the NPCC, “The difference of policy between the Congress and NPF-led BJP DAN are that we believe in decentralisation while they believe in centralisation. Congress believes in inclusive public growth while they believe in individual growth.”
