Social Injustice—Holes found in Nagaland’s CSCs
Dimapur, December 18 (MExN): An extensive number of anomalies and fissures have been detected in the implementation of various centrally-sponsored schemes (CSCs) for social welfare, in Nagaland state. These anomalies in the social welfare department include financial as well as managerial anomalies, according to details submitted to a concerned citizen who sought information under the Right to Information Act (RTI).
In a ‘memorandum’ addressed to the Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, the citizen highlighted a startling array of anomalies detected in the department, in Nagaland. The citizen said that the state has been unable to supply nutritious food stuff and medicines to Anganwadi centers. In fact what the state has been able to provide to the centers, is just some “bulgar” while there are even centers that have received just two cartons of “Rypam” for the year 2007-2008.
Further, the memo stated, no milk has also been provided to the Anganwadi centers. Under the guidelines of the ICDS, children belonging to 0-6 years as well as pregnant mothers and nursing mothers are to be provided with supplementary nutrition immunization, health checks and education among others.
The memo highlighted an amount of Rs. 463, 75 lakhs sanctioned by the government of India for constructing 265 Anganwadi centers in Nagaland, for the year 2007-2008. This amount was for Rs. 1.75 lakhs per center. However, the details surfaced with the fact that the contractors who were allotted the works, have entered into ‘sub-contracts’ and renegotiated the cost of each of the constructions to a rate of about Rs. 30, 000 or a little more per center.
The so-claimed “constructions” were just ‘sort of repairing and renovation works’ while the only proper brick buildings were made in Dimapur areas. The rest are just CGI sheet-wall which are “temporary” dwellings, the memo pointed out. These anomalies reflect the deliberate exploitation, the poor quality of works besides loose contract terms and conditions, the memo stated.
Also, in regard to the Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension (IGNOAP), the memo said the population of Nagaland (2001 census) is approximately 20 Lakhs. According to the details provided to the citizen under the RTI in September 2008, there are only 28, 053 beneficiaries in the state availing the IGNOAP. This is despite the fact that since November 17, 2007 the scheme was ‘enlarged’ to include all persons over 65 years of age falling under the Below Poverty Line (BPL). More beneficiaries should have been increased if only proper direction was initiated and proper information spread to the poor villages to step forward and avail the scheme, the citizen lamented.
Further on, the memo stated that the department of Social Welfare department of Nagaland has 26499 physically-disabled persons identified accordingly in the 2001 census. But no funds have been received for year 2007-2008 nor there are any known action taken by the state government to protect the interests of the physically-challenged persons. This anomaly is in spite of the fact that the Disability Act has been ‘implemented’ in Nagaland. The citizen said he queried how many had the government of India ‘sanctioned for old age home’ and he was informed that there is only one to three such homes operating in the state. “…if such information is correct, then the state of Nagaland still deserve more and in this regard, the ministry should expedite more sanction” the RTI applicant stated in his memo to the ministry.
The ministry is appealed to by the RTI applicant to streamline the stricture system for the nodal implementing agencies to ensure that corruption is thwarted. If any corrupt practices are found, then disciplinary proceedings should be initiated against the implementing agency to impact a more effective ‘delivery of goods and consignments to the concern places’.
The concerned citizen also informed in his memo that the information provided were obtained under the RTI. The citizen has requested for necessary investigations in the stated anomalies.
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