Dimapur, July 3 (MExN): The Nagaland Public Rights Awareness and Action Forum (NPRAAF) has warned the Department of Social Welfare (DoSW), Government of Nagaland, of “necessary steps to ensure justice” if it does not account for anomalies in the Department.
Following an RTI response from the DoSW, the NPRAAF alleged that there were “various anomalies” detected in the distribution of Grant-in-Aid (GIA) to various organizations for the year 2015-16 in Dimapur under four schemes namely: (a) Voluntary organizations dealing with Children Homes under Non-Plan, (b) Voluntary organizations dealing with Children Homes under Plan, (c) Voluntary organizations dealing with Old Age Homes, and (d) Voluntary Organizations dealing with Drug Abuse.
Children Homes
A press release from the Information and Publicity cell of the NPRAAF, as per the RTI response furnished to NPRAAF by the DoSW and “on physical verification” by NPRAAF of the beneficiaries, it was found that “two bodies in the government were deducting Rs 5000/- each from most of the beneficiaries while the amounts were not deducted in the case of some beneficiaries.”
“Surprisingly, the deducted amounts were also added into the amount of GIA and shown as given to the beneficiaries. This means that the beneficiaries got Rs 10, 000/- lesser than what has been actually shown in the RTI document,” stated the NPRAAF, which found this “anomaly” during “physical verification of children homes and societies.”
It further stated that one ‘children home’ expressed “surprise that it was also shown as a beneficiary of Rs 80, 000/- in the RTI document.”
“Thereafter, the particular children home went and claimed the amount from the Department. However, a representative of that children home was initially threatened of withholding the amount if the children home was connected with filing of RTI in the department,” the NPRAAF stated.
Despite efforts by NPRAAF to locate some of the children homes and societies which were shown as recipients of GIA, “it could not be located thus giving rise to doubt the existence such organizations,” the Forum maintained.
Old Age Homes
This doubt gained weight when, according to NPRAAF, it found that a particular organization was shown as a recipient of two different GIAs under Children Homes and Old Age Homes.
“While the existence of the children home was verified, the Old Age Home under the name of the same organization was non-existent. It was learnt that the organization occasionally invites aged persons and distributes blankets and other materials to them. There is no physical home for Old Age people under the name of that organization shown as a beneficiary,” claimed the NPRAAF.
The Forum was further “astounded” to see that an “Office Expenses” of Rs 50, 000/- was shown under the list of GIA for Children Homes under Non-Plan during 2015-16. “Such office expenses was never known and shown under any scheme or financial year, Plan or Non-Plan,” it stated.
The organisation informed that besides physically verifying in Dimapur for the year 2015-16, NPRAAF also made telephonic calls to beneficiaries in other districts regarding GIA during different years. “Several more homes denied receiving any GIA as shown in RTI document.”
Drug Abuse
Under the Drug Abuse scheme of 2013-14, an individual was shown as a recipient. However, the NPRAAF found that the RTI reply clearly mentioned that GIAs were given to “Voluntary Organizations” and nothing was mentioned about “eligibility for individuals to avail such benefits even though eligibility criteria was asked in the RTI application for availing such schemes.”
“The only eligibility criteria it mentioned was that the organization has to be registered with the Government.” Till date, there has not been any instance where an individual got registered with the Government.
Accountability
In the light of the above, the NPRAAF has demanded that the DoSW distribute GIA to all those organizations which have been mentioned as beneficiaries but in reality have not received such funds. NPRAAF also demanded that the Department “strike out the names of non-existent organizations shown as beneficiaries and utilize the resultant funds in an appropriate manner.”
“Preferential treatments to individuals be immediately stopped and the released amount to the particular individual be recalled for proper utilization,” the NPRAAF reiterated.
Further, the Forum demanded that all officers and staff responsible for such anomalies and irregularities be “made accountable and appropriate action be taken against them.”
“Failing to meet its demand within a month from the date of issue of this press release, NPRAAF will take necessary steps to ensure justice to the deprived organizations,” it maintained.
