DIMAPUR, AUGUST 16 (MExN): The Nagaland Tribes Council (NTC) today said that the reason behind developmental activities in Nagaland state coming to a “standstill” are “not due to non-allocation of funds from the Government of India (GoI).”
A press note from the NTC informed that during the last one year, from April 2016 to March 2017, “not less than Rs.2355 crores, 38 lakhs and 64 thousand was drawn and utilised fully by 11 departments purely for public distribution and infrastructural projects excluding departmental and establishment expenditures.”
It informed that two individuals, namely ST Yapang and Odi Jamir had “volunteered to shoulder the odd job of filling PIL against 11 Government departments that have drawn Crores on money without execution of works in the fields.” The data based on which the PILs were filed, was provided by the respective Departments through RTI.
Applauding the two petitioners for their actions, the NTC said that the series of 11 PILs have been filed before the Gauhati High Court, Kohima Bench. The NTC detailed the 11 departments and the details of the PILs filed against them.
The PILs concerned drawal of money by the R&B Department (Rs. 342 crores 32 lakhs and 8 thousand), Department of Social Welfare (Rs. 222 crores 49 lakhs 48 thousands 346), Department of School Education (Rs. 248 crores 67 lakhs 76 thousand), Department of Civil Supplies (Rs. 12 crores 55 lakhs 21 thousand), Department of Rural Development (Rs. 719 crores 67 lakhs 50 thousands 200), PHE Department (Rs. 174 crores 21 lakhs 87 thousand), Department of Planning (Rs. 85 crores 69 lakhs 30 thousands 447), Police Department (Rs. 259 crores 05 lakhs 93 thousands 799), Department of Irrigation and Flood Control (Rs. 57 crores 31 lakhs 12 thousand), Medical Department (Rs. 162 crores 71 lakhs 06 thousands), and the Urban Development Department (Rs. 70 crores 67 lakhs 31 thousands 790).
The NTC meanwhile informed that the Kohima Bench of the Gauhati high Court heard the first petition regarding the R&B Department today. “The Court heard the learned council Advocate NM Jamir and on the interim directed the Department of R&B to start implementation of the projects with the money drawn so far. The Court maintained that the Department of R&B should wake up and restore the condition of Road and Bridges in Nagaland,” the NTC revealed.
It further expressed concern that “an opposition less Government in Nagaland can bring so much destruction and devastation to the system of governance where there is no more restriction or rules to be observed in the utilisation of funds, but it is made free for the elected representatives in connivance with the bureaucrats to burgle every sanction of money for public welfare.”
“As the politicians in authority and the bureaucrats teamed up to loot the state exchequer, what one can think will be left for the welfare of the common man?” the NTC questioned.
It further lamented that despite of the highest degree of corruption, “there is none to raise a voice for public on the floor of the house since 60 MLAs belong to ruling Government and in absence of opposition, one or two NGOs and few concerned individuals are crying foul over the anti-people activities in various departments.”
Yet, these voices failed to deter the authorities from looting the public money, it rued. In light of this, the NTC expressed appreciation to the two petitioners, who are also members of the Governing Body, Nagaland Indigenous People’s Forum, “whose voluntary sacrifices for the suffering masses are rare and remarkable.” The NTC expressed support to their endeavour and said it would “stand by them till justice is delivered to the suffering masses.”
